What to expect from an autism assessment

These forms give your doctor information about: 

• Your daily life and routines. 
• Your relationships. 
• Your work or education experiences. 
• Your family and medical history.

The assessment team needs as much information as possible to check for the core characteristics of autism (DSM-5 criteria). 

• Standard questionnaires help your clinician make an accurate diagnosis. 
• Set aside quiet time to gather your evidence and complete your forms. 
• Give as much detail as possible to help your doctor build a clear picture of your life, symptoms and challenges. 

• This must be completed by someone who knew you as a child (before age 12). 
• If this is not possible, choose the person who knows your best and has known you the longest (for example, a parent, sibling, partner, friend or support worker). 
• If you do not have anyone suitable, please let us know. 

Why this matters: Childhood information is very important. Without it, it may be harder to give you a clear outcome or diagnosis. 

You will need: 

• A computer, laptop or tablet with a camera and microphone. 
• Most modern devices already have these. 

To check your device: 

• Go to the Test Your Device tab at the top of the Psychiatry UK website. 
• Allow the site to access your camera and microphone when prompted. 
• We recommend using the Microsoft Teams app for the best experience. 
• You do not need a Microsoft account. 
• If you don’t want to install the app, please use the most recent version of Microsoft Edge browser. 

Please read our Booking, Cancellations and Non-Attendance (DNA) Policy for full details. 

• Your doctor will introduce themselves and explain the purpose of the session. 
• They will ask to see your photo ID to confirm your identity. 
• They will ask whether you’re happy for the consultation to be recorded. 
• If you do not want it to be recorded, please say so clearly. 
• Your doctor must still keep accurate written notes. These notes go into your Psychiatry UK patient record.

• Please keep your camera on throughout. Observation is an important part of the process. 
• The doctor will follow a structured format to make sure all diagnostic criteria are covered within the session time. 

They will: 

• Review the information from your pre-assessment questionnaires 
• Ask questions about your history, experiences, and current challenges 
• Gather a complete psychiatric history 
• Consider whether you may have other conditions that are often linked to autism 
• Observation and discussion together help the doctor look for the ‘core’ characteristics of autism. 

Important to know 

• If any questions make you feel uncomfortable, please tell your doctor. You will not be pressured to share anything you do not want to. 
• If you want to add more information after the session, you can: 
  • Write a note in your MedQare portal 
  • Ask your doctor to consider this information before finalising your diagnosis 

• Your diagnosis (if applicable). 
• Your personalised treatment plan.
• Resources and support options. 

Your treatment plan will recommend: 

• Options for non-pharmacological treatments (such as therapy, coaching, or skills training) 
• Advice on where to seek ongoing support and guidance 
• There are no specific medications for autism itself. However, medication may be offered for associated conditions, such as depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, alcohol or drug misuse. 

Autism Wellbeing Pack (download) 

Our website Resources area for more guides. 

The DVLA recommends informing them only if your autism significantly impacts your ability to drive safely. If you’re uncertain about your condition’s effect on driving, it’s advisable to discuss it with your doctor. Additionally, it’s a wise measure to inform your insurance company about any relevant medical conditions.  

We will always try to respond to portal messages as fast as we can.

We appreciate your understanding that due to the high number of patients under our care, we may not always respond to patient requests immediately. Occasionally, your note may need to be forwarded to your doctor, which could result in a slightly longer response time.

For urgent matters, please consider contacting us via our Live Chat or telephone support line: 0330 124 1980 (Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm).

Please note: While we endeavour to provide timely assistance, we are not an emergency service and cannot offer emergency medical services for urgent or crisis situations, or for patients who are acutely ill.

Please follow our guidance for urgent assistance.  

Please leave a note on the portal with your requested amendments and assign the note to ‘Your Doctor’. This is the fastest method for getting any changes made.  

We continue to experience unprecedented demand for referrals for both our adult ADHD and autism services, which has inevitably created waiting lists for assessment and treatment. 

Please click here for our current waiting times. Our Customer Support team is unable to give any more information on waiting times over the phone or via our webchat, so please wait to be contacted by us.

If you are already registered with us, we will contact you by email and portal note to arrange the appointment, so please keep looking out for Psychiatry UK emails.

Please log into your account and click on the link to ‘My Profile’ in the menu on the left-hand side of the page. You can update all your personal details here.  

To reset your password, please follow our guidance here.

Contact us via our Live Chat or telephone support line: 0330 124 1980 (Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm).  You will be guided to speak to a member of our IT Support team.