The assessment process.
ADHD Assessment Process
Step 1 : Initial Enquiry
At your initial enquiry, we will ask you a few brief questions and invite you to complete our Client Intake Form. We will also ask you to provide any previous reports or relevant information. If we feel we are the right service for you, we will take the first payment (£400) and put you on our waiting list (currently 4 weeks).
Step 2 : Questionnaire Results
We will send you a set of specialist questionnaires specifically developed to capture the female presentation of ADHD, including screening for masking, sensory differences, emotional regulation, executive functioning, and differential and cooccurring diagnoses. After reviewing and collating this information, we will request the second payment (£400) and book your diagnostic appointments.
Step 3 : Comprehensive Diagnostic Interview (DIVA-5)
The DIVA-5 (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults) is a structured, DSM-5-aligned interview exploring:
Inattention
Hyperactivity & impulsivity
Childhood symptoms
How symptoms affect daily life across multiple settings
The female ADHD presentation and masking
This typically takes 1–2 hours. Breaks or splitting the session into two is allowed if required.
Step 4 : QbCheck (Objective Attention & Activity Test)
You will also complete a QbCheck, a CE-marked, computer-based test measuring:
Sustained attention
Impulsivity
Reaction time
Motor activity / movement patterns
The female ADHD presentation and masking
This provides objective data that complements the DIVA-5 interview and helps differentiate ADHD from other conditions.
Duration: 20–30 minutes.
Step 5 : MDT Panel Review
After all assessments, your Lead Assessor will present your case to the Spectrum Sisters Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).
Together they will determine:
Whether you meet criteria for ADHD.
Whether another explanation or diagnosis is more appropriate.
Whether there are any co-occurring conditions.
The most relevant recommendations and support options.
Our MDT includes:
Clinical Psychologists, Educational Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Paediatric Nurses, and other trained specialists.
You do not attend this meeting.
Step 6 : Report Finalised
Once the MDT has reached a diagnostic decision, we will request the third and final payment (£500). Your detailed, person-centred diagnostic report will then be issued. You will also be offered a follow-up appointment to:
Discuss the findings
Explore strengths and support needs
Go through recommendations
Ask any questions
Request support letters if required
Our reports are accepted by schools, workplaces, universities, and other relevant services. We will also signpost you to helpful resources and support.
Please note whilst we are able to turnaround a report in 4 weeks once we start the process, if you prefer to pace it over time for comfort/financial reasons, we will accommodate that and spread it out over several months.
All assessments and interviews are undertaken remotely.
Autism Assessment Process
Step 1 : Initial Enquiry
At the initial enquiry, we will ask you a few questions and get you to fill in our Client Intake Form. We will also ask you to send any reports you may have. If we feel we can help you, we will take the first payment and send you questionnaires specifically designed for women and girls on the spectrum.
Once we have gathered all that information, and reviewed it we will ask for 2nd payment and book you in for your initial interview.
Step 2 : Diagnostic Interview
As part of our autism assessment process at Spectrum Sisters Ltd, we undertake a comprehensive developmental interview. This will form one component of your overall autism assessment, alongside the ADI-R and ADOS-2 assessments.
Following areas covered as appropriate: Early Development, Social and Communication Development. Behavioural Patterns, Mental Health and Emotional Development, Education and Occupation, Family and Social Context, Adult Functioning (if applicable). We also look at your strengths, gifts, and talents, as well as any indicators suggestive of autism or neurodivergence.
This can take 1.5-3 hours depending on complexity.
Step 3 : Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R)
This is a structured interview that gathers information about early childhood development, focusing on social interaction, communication, and behaviours associated with autism. The ADI-R is administered to someone who knew you well during early childhood, such as a parent or primary caregiver, rather than to you directly.
Please let us know if there is someone who could provide this information, as it helps us to create a more complete understanding of your developmental history. If you don’t that is ok, and not necessary for a diagnosis.
This takes 1.5-3 hours depending on complexity.
Step 4 : Diagnostic Assessment (ADOS -2)
An ADOS-2 assessment involves a set of specific tasks, questions, and social interactions that must be delivered in a highly structured, time bound way to maintain diagnostic validity. For this reason, the ADOS-2 must be completed within a single session, lasting one hour. This ensures that every person is assessed under the same standardised conditions, allowing reliable comparison with clinical benchmarks.
This takes one hour.
Step 5 : MDT Panel Review
This is an essential part of the process. After all the history, questionnaires and assessments have been collated by your Lead Assessor, she will meet with our highly trained expert Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), and will discuss your case, whether you meet the criteria for a diagnosis, whether another diagnosis might be more appropriate, and what recommendations we suggest to help you moving forward.
Our team include Educational Psychologists, Mental Health Nurses, Paediatric Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatrists, and depending on the case their invaluable input will go into the report. You are not required for these meetings.
Step 6 : Report Finalised
Once we have your report we will ask you for the third and final payment. On receipt you will receive your detailed report. Each report is person-centred. Once your report has been reviewed and a diagnosis agreed by the team and signed off, it will be sent to you.
We understand that this will be an anxious time, and after you have had time to digest it, you will be offered a follow-up appointment with your Lead Assessor to discuss our findings within a few days of receipt. In this meeting we can discuss the results, the recommendations, and deal with any queries or concerns, and you can also ask for any support letters you may need moving forward.
Our reports are widely accepted to access services and support in schools, further education, the workplace and other services. We will also signpost you to any services we feel may be helpful to you.
Combined (Autism & ADHD) Assessment Process
Step 1 : Initial Enquiry
At your initial enquiry, we will ask you a few brief questions and invite you to complete our Client Intake Form. We will also ask you to provide any previous reports or relevant information. If we feel we are the right service for you, we will take the first payment (£1,000) and put you on our waiting list (currently 4 weeks).
Please note you are purchasing an assessment – not a diagnosis. There is never a guarantee of a diagnosis.
Step 2 : Questionnaire Results
We will send you a set of specialist questionnaires specifically developed to capture the female presentation of autism and ADHD, including screening for masking, sensory differences, emotional regulation, executive functioning, and differential diagnosis. After reviewing and collating this information, we will request the second payment (£1,000) and book your diagnostic appointments.
Step 3 : Comprehensive Diagnostic Interview (ACIA)
Your Lead Assessor will complete a detailed developmental and life history interview exploring autistic traits using the Autism Clinical Interview for Adults (ACIA).
Areas will include:
Early Development
Social & Communication Development
Behavioural Patterns
Sensory Profile
Attention, impulsivity & executive functioning
Emotional regulation
Mental health histor
Education & work
Family & social context
Adult functioning (if applicable)
Strengths, gifts, talents, and masking strategies
This typically lasts 1.5–3 hours. Breaks or splitting the session into two can be
arranged if required.
Step 4 : Informant Developmental Interview (ADI-R)
The Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R) will be offered to gain additional developmental and diagnostic history. Ideally it is completed with someone who knew you well as a child, such as a parent or caregiver. If this is not possible, a partner or close friend is preferable for a partial ADI-R which will still be clinically helpful. However, if there is no one suitable, we can use the information we have and it will not prevent a diagnosis.
Duration: 1.5–3 hours. Breaks or splitting the session into two can be arranged if required.
Step 5 : Diagnostic Autism Assessment (ADOS-2)
The Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule (ADOS-2) is a structured, standardised observational autism assessment focusing on social communication and interaction. It must be completed within a single session over 1 hour for diagnostic reliability.
Duration: 1 hour.
Step 6 : Diagnostic ADHD Assessment (DIVA-5 + QbCheck)
Your ADHD assessment consists of two components:
DIVA-5 Clinical Interview
The DIVA-5 (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults) is a structured, DSM-5-aligned interview exploring:
Inattention
Hyperactivity & impulsivity
Childhood symptoms
How symptoms affect daily life across multiple settings
The female ADHD presentation and masking
This typically takes 1–2 hours. Breaks or splitting the session into two is allowed if required.
QbCheck (Objective Attention & Activity Test)
You will also complete a QbCheck, a CE-marked, computer-based test measuring:
Sustained attention
Impulsivity
Reaction time
Motor activity / movement patterns
This provides objective data that complements the DIVA-5 interview and helps differentiate ADHD from other conditions.
Duration: 20–30 minutes.
Step 7 : Neurodevelopmental Wellbeing Assessment
As part of our holistic approach, we complete a Neurodevelopmental Wellbeing Assessment. This assessment explores how your neurodevelopmental profile impacts different areas of life, including:
Mental health and emotional wellbeing
Burnout and masking fatigue
Sensory needs and regulation strategies
Executive functioning and daily life demands
Relationships and social energy management
Work, education, and environmental fit
Identity, strengths, and personal values
The purpose of this assessment is not diagnostic, but to develop a deeper understanding of your support needs, strengths, and wellbeing profile. This information forms part of your final report and allows us to provide practical, personalised recommendations that go beyond diagnosis alone.
Step 8 : MDT Panel Review
After all assessments, your Lead Assessor will present your case to the Spectrum Sisters Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). Together they will determine:
Whether you meet criteria for autism, ADHD, both, or neither
Whether another explanation or diagnosis is more appropriate
Whether there are any co-occurring conditions
The most relevant recommendations and support options
Our MDT includes:
Psychologists, Educational Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Paediatric Nurses, and other trained specialists. You do not attend this meeting.
Step 9 : Report Finalised
Once the MDT has reached a diagnostic decision, we will request the third and final payment (£1,000) and your detailed diagnostic report will then be finalised and issued.
Your report will be reviewed and signed off by at least three registered clinicians, one of whom will always be a Psychologist, ensuring that the diagnostic conclusions have been carefully reviewed and agreed by multiple experienced professionals.
In addition to the full report, you will also receive a clear diagnostic summary letter which can be easily shared with GPs, workplaces, universities, or other professionals who may require confirmation of your diagnosis but means you can retain your privacy if you don’t wish to share the full report.
Unlike many brief diagnostic reports, our documentation includes detailed diagnostic reasoning and clearly structured summaries, so that other professionals can understand exactly how the diagnostic conclusion was reached. This helps ensure that your assessment can be confidently used when seeking support, adjustments, or further services.
Step 10 : Feedback and Ongoing Support
Receiving a neurodevelopmental diagnosis can be a significant and sometimes emotional experience. Many people feel relief, validation, curiosity, or uncertainty after receiving their report. At Spectrum Sisters, we believe it is important that clients feel supported and able to ask questions at any stage.
We therefore offer flexible feedback and follow-up support in whatever way works best for you. This may include a one-off detailed video consultation where we go through the report together bit by bit, or email support where you ask questions as they arise – whatever works best for you. We don’t put a time limit on asking questions about your report as we know sometimes these may pop up at any time, and people need time to digest. We are happy to provide clarification or guidance whenever it is needed. We do not believe in simply providing a diagnosis and then ending contact. We totally understand that it can be a profound and sometimes confronting experience, and we want clients to feel supported as they process this information. This is all included in the assessment fee.
Where appropriate, we can also offer ongoing post-diagnostic support for a fee, including guidance around wellbeing, adjustments at work or education, and strategies to support everyday life.
Ultimately our aim is that every client leaves the process feeling understood, informed, and supported, with practical tools to help them move forward.
Notes
Our reports are commonly accepted by schools, workplaces, universities, government departments and other relevant services. We will also signpost you to helpful resources and support.
Please note whilst we are able to turnaround a report in 4 weeks once we start the process, if you prefer to pace it over time for comfort/financial reasons, we will accommodate that and spread it out over several months.
All assessments and interviews are undertaken remotely.
Please note that booking an assessment with us assumes you have fully understood and accept all of the above terms.
