Adult AuDHD assessment
Do you suspect you may be AuDHD and are looking for a formal assessment?
When autism and ADHD co-occur, this is known as AuDHD. Around half of autistic and ADHD individuals are believed to be AuDHD. This number is not represented in official statistics because until recently, diagnostic manuals did not allow both diagnoses to be given simultaneously.
What is AuDHD?
AuDHD is the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD. While autism predominantly looks at social-communication differences and ADHD looks at attentional differences, both include a great deal of cross-over including an ability to hyper-focus on interests, executive function challenges and differences in sensory profiles.
AuDHD can be a confusing experience, too. You may find you crave socialising and then feel depleted, want structure and then find the structure overwhelming, or crave new experiences and then need to retreat to safe activities.
Individuals with AuDHD may find that:
- They are able to hyper-focus on things they are interested in but struggle to attend to things that do not interest them.
- Enjoy spontaneity within specific areas and limits of their life.
- Find a conflict between a preference for routine and a desire for novelty.
- Build incredibly busy lives that then feel overwhelming.
- Experience burnout from trying to balance competing demands.
If you believe you may be AuDHD, we can offer a combined assessment to provide clarity.
Why choose us?
- Neurodivergent-led service – we have lived experience of neurodivergence.
- Neuroaffirmative approach – we view AuDHD as a difference, not a disorder to be “fixed”.
- Clinically robust assessments – we consider multiple sources of information and conduct at least two assessment sessions to ensure a thorough and accurate understanding of your experience.
- Modern understanding of AuDHD – we draw upon research on masking, monotropism, executive functioning and rejection sensitivity.
- Supportive and collaborative process – we work with you to understand your experience.
How does the process work?
It is important to be clear that AuDHD is not recognised as a separate neurotype. Therefore, when we talk about an AuDHD assessment, what we are doing is conducting an autism assessment and an ADHD assessment at the same time. If you meet the criteria, you will receive a separate set of documentation for each diagnosis.
Step 1: After registering with us, we will ask you to complete a form providing background information on your experience and why you believe you may be AuDHD.
Step 2: You will meet with your psychologist. This typically involves two or three sessions, usually about a week apart. During these sessions you will have an in-depth conversation about your experiences.
Step 3: Where possible, we will gather collateral information from your parents, family member or other individual who has known you since childhood. This can be done face-to-face or via a form. If you are unable to provide a suitable person, we can still carry out your assessment, but it is helpful to have this additional information.
Step 4: Your psychologist will consult with other professionals as required, as part of our multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach. This allows us to draw on a range of skills to ensure we make an accurate assessment.
Step 5: You will meet with your psychologist one final time and arrive at a formal decision as to whether you are AuDHD or not. Regardless of the outcome, we will be able to signpost you to further support.
Step 6: If we identify that you are autistic, ADHD, or both, we will provide you with a set of documentation to verify your identification/diagnosis.
Post-assessment support: After the assessment, we offer a support session to help you reflect on what comes next. Rather than simply giving you a diagnosis and sending you on your way, these sessions provide space to make sense of the outcome and what it means for you. This might include developing a deeper understanding of neurodivergence, exploring your identity in light of the assessment, and discussing practical strategies that may help with any difficulties you experience.
What are the potential outcomes?
We may identify that you are both autistic and ADHD. We may identify that you are autistic or ADHD but not the other. If so, we will be able to signpost you to appropriate support. We may identify that you are not autistic or ADHD. On rare occasions, we may be unable to reach a clear conclusion.
Location
Leeds
In person in Leeds city centreOnline
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£2,100. This includes the assessment itself and a full set of documentation if we identify that you are AuDHD.
Book onlineFrequently asked questions
Can I use my private health insurance?
If your private health insurance allows you to select any Registered Psychologist then yes. You will need to arrange payment with your health insurance provider.
Will my assessment be recognised?
Yes. Our assessments follow the best practice guidelines defined by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and are carried out by psychologists registered with the Health & Care Professions Council. However, if you are in any doubt, please check with your workplace/college first.
Can you prescribe medication?
No. Medication can only be prescribed by a physician such as a psychiatrist or a GP. If you would like to start medication, you should speak to your GP about possible pathways before undertaking an assessment.
Do you see people outside of the UK?
No, unfortunately not.
Do family members need to be involved in my assessment?
No. Where possible, we aim to gather collateral information from someone who knew you when you were young, as this can help improve the accuracy of the assessment. However, if nobody is available, or you would prefer not to involve others, your assessment can still proceed.
If I am one but not the other, do I still get my diagnosis?
Yes. You will receive a separate outcome for both autism and ADHD.