How to request a diagnostic assessment
It can be daunting to start the process of securing a diagnostic assessment. There are so many unknowns and who wants to be stuck in a quiet room with a psychologist? This page sets out the process of requesting an assessment.
Who can request a service?
I assess adults and young people from 16 years upwards.
Assessments can be requested by the individual to be assessed or by a third party, such as employer or parent. Where a third party is requesting the assessment, I will need to know that the individual to be assessed has given consent for this to happen.
Remote versus face-to-face assessments
I offer assessment both face-to-face at my consulting rooms in central Hove, East Sussex, and remotely via video conferencing.
Unfortunately, my usual rooms are not wheelchair-accessible and access is via a short flight of steps. If you need an accessible location, this can easily be arranged. Just let me know at the time of booking.
If you need help deciding whether to request a face-to-face or remote assessment, this information sheet Remote versus face-to-face assessments identifies some of the key considerations. It also outlines what equipment you will need in order to undertake a remote assessment.
What should I do before requesting a diagnostic assessment?
Before requesting a diagnostic assessment it can be useful to complete initial screening tests. The screening tests are brief and don’t always get it right. However, it can help you decide whether a full assessment could be needed.
There are number of free and low cost screening tests available online.
For those in secondary and further education
It can be useful to speak to the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) at the school before requesting the assessment to discuss what the school could provide and how they might be able to work with an external assessor.
For those in higher education
It’s a good idea to speak to your student support services before booking an assessment. They might be able to complete a screening test with you. They might even have access to their own, in-house assessors or be able to tell you about any financial help you might get for an independent assessment.
For those in employment or completing vocational training with an employer
It’s advisable to speak to your line manager or to the Human Resources department first. Employers are sometimes willing to fund a diagnostic assessment, as well as other services, such as workplace needs assessments. If they are willing to do this, the request for the assessment will need to come from them. However, I would be happy to have an initial discussion with you about how I might be able to help.
For those completing professional qualifications
It can be useful to check what requirements your examining body has with respect to types of assessor and assessment. Although some examining bodies identify that only assessments by Educational Psychologists are acceptable, most are happy to accept reports from other specialisations. Contact me to discuss if you are at all unsure.
For employers
For employers seeking help for an employee, please contact me to discuss options and for guidance on how to proceed.
Making initial contact
The first step is to make contact with me at
The information I would like is:
- What service you are requesting, ie a diagnostic assessment.
- Whether you want a face-to-face or remote assessment. Information that can help you choose can be found at Remote versus face-to-face assessments
- A brief indication of why you are seeking the assessment. This is to make sure I am the best person to provide it. This information doesn’t need to be lengthy or well-written. I can always ask if I need to clarify anything.
Here are examples of common types of request that I receive.:
“I have always had trouble with spelling and reading. Now that my job involves more paperwork, it’s becoming a concern. I want to know if I am dyslexic so I can understand myself better and ask for adjustments from my employer.”
“My daughter has done well at school. However, she has always had to work twice as hard and we wonder if she might be dyslexic. We want to find out if she is so that she can get more support and understanding at college.”
“I have always known that I am ‘different’ to other people. Since finding out more about ADHD and autism, I wonder whether these apply to me. I want to find out more about myself and why I experience challenges that other people don’t seem to”.
“I am about to start a university course and have always had to work hard at study. I now want to know if am neurodivergent so that I can get extra time in exams.”
“I am thinking of changing career. I have really struggled with some types of work and I want to know more about my areas of strength and difficulty so that I can make a better choice of what to do next and get the support I need.”
If you don’t feel comfortable writing this out in an email, I am happy to give you a call to chat. Just email me with a phone number and an indication of when you will be around and I will call you back.
Please note that I do not currently offer assessments for court or tribunals. Expert witness psychologists can be found at the Directory of Expert Witnesses on the British Psychological Society website here.
Arranging an appointment
Once I have confirmed that I am able to offer the service you want, I will send you out an appointment, some information sheets and a pre-assessment questionnaire.
If the appointment date or time doesn’t suit, just let me know and I will find another for you.
My usual waiting time is generally four to six weeks from the initial request. However, some times of the year are busier or quieter than others, so this can vary.
Securing and paying for the appointment
Once you have agreed the appointment date and time, I will send out an electronic invoice for half the assessment fee. This is the deposit and secures the appointment. It can be paid by credit or debit card. The balance is due 48 hours before the appointment. A separate invoice will be sent out for this.
For information about the cost of a diagnostic assessment and how to pay, please see Fees
For more information about diagnostic assessment, please see Diagnostic assessments
If you have any questions regarding how to book a diagnostic assessment, please contact me at
