Priory offers private autism assessments for children and adults who are showing signs of autism, with waiting times that are significantly shorter than the national average.
As of March 2024, there were 184,733 people waiting for an autism assessment in England, according to the latest NHS data. Data also shows that, over the past year, the average wait time for an autism diagnosis increased to 300 days (source).
Our autism assessments are conducted by either a qualified psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist, all of whom are experts, and specifically trained in the field of autism diagnosis and support.
Following the autism assessment, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive outcome report, based on NHS and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) standards. The entire end-to-end process for our private autism assessment usually takes between 4 to 6 weeks.
We are able to offer fast access private autism assessments and diagnosis to those who are showing signs of autism.
Our autism assessment process is the same for both adults and children. It’s made up of a number of elements, including:
"A diagnosis provides a psychological map of understanding of where a person struggles and what they might now be able to do about it. It also improves their sense of identity, something that improves their sense of who they are, and this alone improves their mental health.
Having a formal autism assessment and diagnosis also gives them something they can take to their employer/school to ask for support.”
Read more about the importance of diagnosis here.
We offer a free online screening test for autism, known as the AQ-10. The AQ-10 is a quick questionnaire that you can complete on behalf of yourself or a child. It’s a simple screening tool that indicates whether you/your child might benefit from receiving a full diagnostic assessment for autism.
This can be a useful step if you’re not sure whether you/your child might be showing autistic traits, or if you just want some confirmation of the traits you’ve observed. The test is quick to complete and you’ll get your results immediately.
The AQ-10 has three versions. You can click on the relevant link below to take the test for yourself or your child:
Prices for the autism assessment can vary depending on whether this is conducted by a therapist/psychologist, or a consultant psychiatrist.
For people who go down the therapy/psychology-led route, the cost for the autism assessment is £1,950. This includes the autism diagnostic tool (ADI-R), ADOS assessment and feedback session. This doesn’t include an initial mental health assessment, where we'll discuss any complexities, risks, or other concerns you might have, such as anxiety, past traumas or relationship issues.
For people who go down the consultant-led route, the cost for the autism assessment will be around £2,250, which includes the autism diagnostic tool (DISCO, 3Di or ADI-R), ADOS assessment and feedback session. Again, this doesn’t include an initial mental health assessment, and costs may vary depending on individual consultant fees.
Some private medical insurance (PMI) companies may fund your autism assessment and diagnosis. Please contact your insurer to check whether you're covered for this service.
We always ask for any relevant information from your GP, but you don’t need a formal GP referral to be able to access our autism assessment process. The exception to this is when a person needs to see a psychiatrist before entering the process.
We can offer autism assessments for children from the age of 4 years.
Depending on the age of the young person, parents/guardians can be involved in all stages of the assessment process. This can be discussed and agreed upon during the initial screening session.
During the ADI-R stage of the autism assessment process, we need to gather information on the person’s developmental history from as many people as possible. Therefore, parents/guardians and other key people in the person’s life will need to be involved. This is the case for both adults and children.
Your autism assessment can be conducted by either a therapist, psychologist or a psychiatrist. The type of specialist you’ll see can depend on a number of factors. These include:
We can guide you through the options and help to determine which would be the most appropriate for you. If you start on the therapist or psychologist route, but it becomes clear that you’d benefit from a psychiatric assessment, then we can refer you to one of our psychiatrists quickly and easily.
How long each stage of the autism assessment takes can vary slightly depending on each person. However, the following is a general guide:
The whole end-to-end process usually takes between 4 to 6 weeks.
Following the autism assessment, we’ll discuss next steps and any further support that you might benefit from. We can offer one-to-one outpatient sessions for autistic people who may need extra help managing their condition. We can also help people who have anxiety and/or depression symptoms, linked to their autism, that they might need some support with.
Psychoeducation is also a really important part of the process. This is when you educate yourself about the psychological impact of autism, typical characteristics and normalising some aspects of it. We can support you with this, and recommend websites/resources to help you to learn more about your diagnosis.
We aim to keep waiting times as low as possible, and this depends on the location of your nearest site.
For all enquiries, please call our customer service centre on 0800 840 3219. Our friendly team will be able to answer any initial queries you have, and start the process for booking your private autism assessment.
For more information on the end-to-end process for our autism assessment, please download our detailed information sheet, available in the 'downloads' section below. This document provides an insight into each step of the process, helping you to determine if our assessment service is suitable for your needs, and ensuring you're fully informed and prepared.
Dr Asif Mehdi Bachlani, a consultant psychiatrist at Priory, has been named ‘Psychiatrist of the Year’ by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Dr Bachlani leads Priory Hospital Woking’s autism pathway and has played a pivotal role in establishing the first diagnostic pathway for autism within Priory’s private healthcare services.
This assessment model is being introduced across all Priory hospitals and wellbeing centres, improving access to timely autism diagnosis and personalised support.
Dr Bachlani has also created a 12-week programme for newly diagnosed individuals, offering psychological support, guidance, and ongoing care.
