Autism & ADHD diagnostic Services

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There are human differences which are easier to see, for example a person’s race or gender. But there are also differences which are more hidden from view, such as those experienced by people within the Neurodiverse community. These differences can lead to observable behaviours which can be misinterpreted as being ‘difficult’ or ‘rude.’ 

The most common neurodiverse conditions are ASD, ADHD and Dyslexia, but also include lesser-known ones like Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia and Tourette’s Syndrome. There is a strong need to raise awareness and understanding regarding the neurodiversity movement, as it moves away from the typical view of disability. 

Current thinking is that neurodiverse or neurodivergent conditions are part of natural human variation and need to be celebrated not cured. The differences are at a neurological level, whereby the brain is wired differently changing the way a person thinks, feels, processes, perceives and experiences the world around them.

It is estimated as many as 1/5th of the population is neurodiverse, but that many have not been diagnosed. It is understood that people can have characteristics of more than one condition, and that those characteristics can vary from one individual to another.

Neurodiverse people will have varying personal strengths, for example, people with autism can have extraordinarily good memory skills and the ability to produce precise and detailed work, and people with ADHD can be extremely creative and imaginative, with energy and enthusiasm for topics of interest.

These people may also present with various challenges, for example, difficulties with concentration, emotional regulation, social skills, sensory sensitivities, task initiation, organisational skills, and change. 

Given the right support and reasonable adjustments, people with neurodiverse conditions can succeed and flourish in education, work, daily living activities and relationships, managing their difficulties and capitalising on their own individual strengths.

  Not everyone who suspects that they or their child may have ASD or ADHD may want to seek a diagnosis. However, for many, a diagnosis can have real benefits. In particular, it can help make sense of the difficulties a person is experiencing and can support you (and others) to compassionately understand some of the behaviours that you may see.

In understanding these difficulties as part of an ASD or ADHD diagnosis, both the person and their family or carers are more equipped to obtain focussed support to help them manage their difficult experiences. Allowing people with autism and ADHD to thrive and reach their potential in part through the use of reasonable adjustments eligible under the Equality Act  2010.

The Diversity Hub offers ASD and ADHD diagnostic assessments for adults and young people who suspect they may have one or both of these conditions. 

   Our formal assessment may take three to four hours and will be carried out by a clinician trained in the ADI-R and ADOS-2; these are documented in the NICE guidelines as the gold standard of assessments in ASD diagnostics. Please note, this is only an assessment, and not a detailed treatment.

Prior to the formal assessment, a screening tool will be offered to identify if a formal ASD / ADHD assessment is required, this will provide additional information which can inform the diagnostic process or prevent any unnecessary testing. 

For adult referrals, some signs of ASD can occur in early childhood, so it can be really helpful to bring a parent or older sibling to your appointment. If this isn’t possible, please bring a partner or friend who knows you well.

If we’re unable to collect this developmental information, we may not be able to provide a full diagnosis.

After your appointment, we’ll provide recommendations and signposting to other relevant services, and give you your report. 

This Service is a screening, assessment and diagnosis service only.  Although we are unable to offer ongoing intervention at present, we do signpost to other appropriate services. Please note some agencies may not accept a private diagnosis of ASD. 

Please do not hesitate to contact The Diversity Hub for more information about what to expect from an assessment. 

 ASD also referred to as autism, is a condition where individuals may exhibit difficulties in particular areas of social interaction and communication. These may include speech delay, repetitive behaviours or highly focused interests; sensory sensitivities; and limited use and understanding of non-verbal communication and gestures. Individuals with these types of difficulties can often struggle managing routines within their normal, everyday lives and may have problems establishing social rapport/relationships. Further, due to social misunderstanding, autistic people may often find themselves labelled as rude or blunt due to the unique way they may communicate emotional distress or misunderstandings of the world around them.

Some adults with ASD grow up without their condition being diagnosed or recognised. This can lead to a feeling of ‘not fitting in’ or ‘something not being quite right’. It can further mean they are not receiving the support they are entitled to.

Because autism is a spectrum condition, it impacts different people in different ways. You may seek an assessment because you or someone in your life has noticed some of the following behaviours:

· Finding talking to or spending time with others difficult

· Struggling to understand what other people are thinking or feeling

· Repeating the same behaviours or movements over and over

· Sometimes find noise, taste, smell or touch hard to cope with

· Becoming very distressed when small changes happen unexpectedly

· Having a very intense interest in a particular subject or activity

 Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that not everyone experience in the same way. Some people with ADHD appear restless and impulsive. Others have difficulties with memory or concentrating. It can present in a number of differing ways and negatively impact upon the ability to achieve your potential.

 It can impact adults and children across education or employment as well as impacting social skills and ability to manage in day to day life. An assessment and diagnosis can allow for a better understanding of difficulties as well as opening the door for treatment options. 

The symptoms of ADHD in adults and young people fall into two main categories: inattentiveness, and hyperactivity and impulsiveness. While some people may show symptoms from just one of these categories, others may engage in both sets of behaviours.

Signs of inattentiveness can include:

· Having a short attention span

· Getting easily distracted

· Forgetfulness

· Being unable to complete tedious tasks

· Constantly switching between activities

Signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness can include:

· An inability to sit still

· Lots of fidgeting

· Lack of concentration

· Moving or talking excessively

· Acting without thinking (often with no sense of danger)

  We all use sensory information all of the time to help us make sense of the world around us and how we function within it. We all have sensory preferences, for example you may like sweet things but not spicy food, there may be sounds that are really unpleasant to you but don't seem to bother other people. 

Sometimes an autistic person may behave in a way that you wouldn't immediately link to sensory sensitivities. A person who struggles to deal with everyday sensory information can experience sensory overload, or information overload. Too much information can cause stress, anxiety, and possibly physical pain. This can result in withdrawal, behaviours that challange or ‘shutdown.’

Many people on the autism spectrum have difficulty processing everyday sensory information. Any of the senses may be over or under sensitive, or both, at different times. These sensory differences can affect behaviour, and can have a profound effect on a person's life.

Often, small changes to the environment can make a difference. Creating a sensory profile may help you to work out what changes are needed.

So prevalent are the difficulties autistic people have with sensory processing, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) now include “hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment” in the ASD diagnostic criteria. 

    An Occupational Therapist is an allied health professional (AHP) who is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). 

Occupational Therapists use meaningful everyday activities (occupations) as a therapeutic tool to promote health and wellbeing. They understand how physical, learning and mental health difficulties can impact upon a persons ability to carry out daily activities within work, school, home and the community safely and to their maximum possible level of independence. 

Occupations are the meaningful activities that we chose to participate in on a daily basis. What is meaningful to one person may not be for another; it is for that reason that Occupational Therapists work in a client centred way, helping a person affected by mental health illness, physical or learning disability, to work on the things that are important to them. We use everyday activities along with bespoke therapeutic activities to help children and adults reach their full potential, their maximum level of independence and satisfaction possible in their chosen occupations.

A person’s occupations generally fall into three main categories; self-care, productivity (Education/Work) and leisure. For an adult, they may be motivated to return to work after injury or illness and need reasonable adjustments to the workplace. For a child, they may be having difficulties with handwriting, dressing or developing ball skills. The work that Occupational Therapist’s do can span a lifetime, from birth to old age; making a difference to peoples quality of life.