What is a diagnostic assessment?
A diagnostic assessment is the process of analysing patterns of information to identify what might be underlying any issues you might be experiencing and to identity your areas of strength.
Formal diagnosis
A diagnostic assessment might result in formal diagnoses. The assessments I conduct can formally diagnose dyslexia.
Working diagnosis
The assessment might also result in one or more working diagnoses. I can currently provide a working diagnosis of
- Dyspraxia
- Autism (medically known as Autistic Spectrum Disorder)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Anxiety
- Depression
The Equality Act 2010 does not require a formal diagnosis in order for adjustments to be requested in education or employment. An identification of need, such as these assessments provide, is therefore usually sufficient to ask for adjustments.
A working diagnosis, following from an assessment such as this, is also sufficient evidence to support an application for Disabled Students’ Allowances, for those in higher education.
A formal diagnosis is, however, necessary for accessing medical care. A working diagnosis would therefore not be sufficient to access medication, in the case of ADHD or mental health difficulties, or specialist autism services. However, it can give you evidence to support a request for a referral for a formal diagnosis.
Not every assessment will result in a diagnosis. However, the process will identify your personal pattern of skills and abilities and help you develop your self-understanding.
Why are my diagnostic assessments done this way?
My diagnostic assessments take a broad approach, looking at various types of neurodivergence in one, holistic assessment. As many, if not most, neurodivergent people experience more than one type of neurodivergence, this ensures that a complete picture is produced. You do not need to know which type or types of neurodivergence might be applicable for you before we start.
My diagnostic assessments follow relevant guidelines on best practice, including those provided by the BPS, NICE and SASC.
Why get a diagnostic assessment?
Neurodivergence can impact many areas of life. However, it is not always easy to understand what is going on. It is “just the way we do things”. With the right adjustments and strategies, the impact of any challenges can be minimised and areas of strength can be identified and used.
A diagnostic assessment can be a first step to accessing adjustments or support at work, in training or in higher education to ensure that you are not being disadvantaged because of the effects of your way of working, or just to understand yourself better.
I offer assessments for the following needs.
- Assessments for adjustments in secondary and further education. Further details can be found in the information sheet Assessments in secondary and further education
- Assessments for adjustments in higher education, including applications for Disabled Students Allowances. Further details can be found in the information sheet Assessments in higher education
- Assessments for adjustments in professional qualifications, such as ACA, CIPD, ICAEW. Further details can be found in the information sheet Assessments for professional qualifications
- Assessments for adjustments in the workplace. Further details can be found in the information sheet Assessments for the workplace
- Assessments for self-understanding
- Combined workplace needs and diagnostic assessments. Further details can be found at Workplace needs assessments
When to get a diagnostic assessment?
There is no right or wrong time to have an assessment. You might be about to start at university, be already established in your course or wanting to perform better in your job. You might just have reached a point in your life where you want to find out whether the way that you do things means that you might, indeed, be neurodivergent. You are never too old to have an assessment. However, if you have had difficulties in work or study and you suspect that these might be due to neurodivergence, the sooner you identify this or rule it out, the sooner you can start to address these issues. Don’t leave it until things have reached crisis point.
What happens during a diagnostic assessment?
The assessment starts with taking a history. This will include your experience of school and any relevant medical history. The exploration will only cover areas that have direct relevance to the assessment and you are not obliged to discuss anything you find uncomfortable. You will then be asked about any current difficulties and their impact on your studies or work. You will also be asked about areas of strength.
The next stage will be psychometric testing. These are specialised exercises that measure a range of thinking skills, as well as looking at aspects of literacy or numeracy, if relevant. Sometimes questionnaires are also used to gather information. This can be during the session or completed via email after the session.
Although people can find some of the exercises remind them of school, there is no pass or fail in these assessments. It is more like taking a set of measurements so that a perfectly-fitted suit can be made.
Once the assessment process is completed, you will receive immediate, preliminary feedback on the findings. It will take time for me to carefully consider all the information gathered during the session before reaching any final conclusions. However, I will talk you through the results and how they might relate to any challenges you have experienced. I will also give you a provisional formulation of the possible neurotypes that might be present. Examples of strategies and recommendations will also be discussed with you. You will then have a chance to ask any questions you might have before we finish.
The assessment takes approximately three hours.
What happens after the assessment?
A report will be written within ten working days of the assessment. This will be emailed to you in PDF format.
The report is thorough but is designed to be accessible to and useable and to avoid technical terms where they are not necessary.
The report will detail the reasons for the referral, any relevant background information and list the presenting difficulties. The results of the testing are then listed, with explanations of what each test measures and what the scores mean. A clear diagnosis, if appropriate, is given and a description of the identified areas of strength and weakness is made. Recommendations for types of adjustment and strategy are listed and useful resources identified. Suggestions for next steps will be made.
The report is produced as a two-part document; an overview, which summarises the findings of the assessment, and the body of the report, which contains test results and personal history. Where the report is produced for an employer, the overview only is provided to them. The employee receives a full copy of the report.
There is an option for a follow up session for more detailed feedback, information about neurodivergence and advice. This would be charged in addition to the assessment fee. Discuss this with me and we can talk it through.
For information on how to book an assessment, please see How to request an assessment
For information about the cost of a diagnostic assessment and how to pay, please see Fees
If you have any questions regarding how to book a diagnostic assessment, please contact me at
