Child and Adolescent Autism and ADHD Services

Child and Adolescent Autism and ADHD Assessments and Post-diagnostic Support in Brighton and Hove

Autism and ADHD Assessment and Post-Diagnostic support

Watching your child struggle at school, find social situations overwhelming, or have intense emotional outbursts can leave you feeling helpless. You might notice them trying so hard to keep up or fit in, leading to absolute exhaustion by the time they get home. It takes a huge toll on their self-esteem and family life.

Getting a clear diagnosis isn't about labelling your child; it's about understanding how their mind works. When you know why they experience the world differently, you can stop guessing and start getting them the right support—both at home and in the classroom. We also recognise that children rarely fit into neat boxes. Many children experience a crossover of traits, which is why we offer combined Autism and ADHD assessments. This systemic approach means your child can be looked at holistically in one streamlined pathway, saving your family from navigating multiple separate queues or repeating your story twice.

Our Child and Adolescent assessments follow NICE Guidelines and are led by senior clinical psychologists who have extensive experience working with a broad range of mental health diagnoses. We know that behavioural issues, school struggles, or social withdrawal can be driven by many different factors—such as anxiety, trauma, or learning differences overlapping with or mimicking autism and ADHD. We carefully untangle all of these possibilities to ensure we understand the true root cause of your child's challenges and get a full and accurate picture of your child's developmental profile.

Our reports are thorough, rigorous, and we work closely with schools and local authorities to ensure they have absolute confidence in our reports. We look closely at your child's history and development, and every report includes a detailed psychological "formulation"—meaning even if a formal diagnosis isn't met, you'll still walk away with a clear understanding of your child and what they need.

Crucially, we don't disappear after the report is written. We offer ongoing support under the same roof, from specialist tailored therapy to practical guidance, so your family isn't left navigating the next steps alone.

How the Process Works

We want to make sure your child is on the right pathway from day one. To protect you from paying for an expensive assessment your child might not need, our pathway is broken down into clear, manageable steps:

Step 1: The Pre-Assessment Consultation (90 Mins)

Before any formal diagnostic assessment takes place, we recommend a thorough pre-assessment consultation with a Senior Clinician.

Prior to the meeting, you’ll complete detailed screening questionnaires and a full developmental history.
You’ll meet with one of our Senior Clinicians for an in-depth discussion (1.5 hours).
The Clinical Safeguard: This appointment helps us determine whether a formal diagnostic assessment is clinically indicated. If we find that a full assessment isn't the right path, we will explain our rationale clearly and guide you toward alternative support, saving you time and unnecessary expense.

If you have been referred by a clinician or you are already on a waiting list for an assessment, a pre-assessment may not be necessary. Please get in touch with us directly to discuss further contact@thepsychologicaltherapycentre.com

Step 2: The Formal Diagnostic Assessment

If the pre-assessment indicates that moving forward is appropriate, we carry out the formal diagnostic process across a series of appointments.

For Autism: We use gold-standard, NICE-recommended tools such as the ADOS-2, MIGDAS-2, and ADI-R.
For ADHD: We use structured tools like the ACE, alongside objective measures like the QB Check(a quick 15–20 minute computerised test that measures attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity).
We gather information from multiple perspectives, reviewing school reports, medical history, and—where applicable—conducting school or home observations and teacher interviews

Step 3: Comprehensive Report & Feedback Session

Following the assessment, you will receive an extensive, highly detailed report containing our findings, clinical rationale, and practical recommendations. We also provide a feedback session to discuss the conclusions, answer your questions, and map out next steps—including post-diagnostic support options or any necessary onward referrals for psychiatry or prescribing, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or educational support. You will also be given access to our parent portal which has a wealth of information and resources to help you and your child navigate their diagnosis.

The Tools and Standards We Use

All of our child assessments are led by Senior Clinical Psychologists, with multidisciplinary input from Speech & Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists where needed.

Gold-Standard Frameworks: We strictly follow NICE-recommended guidelines and structured assessments.
Objective ADHD Testing (QB Check): Administered and interpreted by qualified professionals, the QB check provides an objective measurement of attention and activity levels to support accurate ADHD diagnosis and evaluate future treatment interventions.
Cognitive & Learning Profiles: If your child is struggling academically, we can also integrate cognitive assessments or speech and language evaluations to get a complete picture of how they process information, learn, and experience the world.

How Can I Find Out More?

If you are unsure where to start or want to talk through your child’s specific situation, you can book a Free Initial Telephone Consultation or a Pre-assessment with one of our Clinical Leads.

Fees

How much does a diagnostic assessment cost?

Initial Pre-assessment (Child 7+) £300 (90 Minutes)

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QB Check + Feedback £280

Formal Diagnostic Autism Assessment (Child) £2,350

Child ADHD Assessment + QB Check £1,450

Child ADHD Assessment + QB Check + Cognitive Assessment £1,900

Joint ADHD and Autism Assessment + QB Check (Child) £3,195

Additional consultation work £150 (60 Minutes)

Pre-assessment reports (if required) £120

Diagnostic Assessments - Reports are included

We allow plenty of time covered within the fee to gather all the information we need. Occasionally additional appointments are required to gather further clinical information to avoid an inconclusive outcome, which are charged at £150 per hour. This is only when there is more information to collate than we typically need. You will always be consulted in advance of any additional fees. Home / School Observations also incur additional fees.

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