Autism assessments at Regal Private Therapy Practice
Private Autism assessments for adults, adolescents and children in central London
At Regal Private Therapy Practice we offer full diagnostic Autism assessments, reports and recommendations completed by HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologists, giving you confidence in the accuracy and quality of the process.
We would encourage you to contact the clinic directly to book a complimentary consultation where our highly experienced Autism assessors would happily discuss the full process and answer any questions you may have.
What is Autism?
Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) or formerly Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts, and experiences the world around them. It is described as a spectrum because each individual’s presentation is unique, with a wide variation in strengths, challenges and support needs.
Common features may include: differences in social interaction or understanding social cues, challenges with verbal and non-verbal communication, preference for routine or repetitive activities, distinctive ways of processing information or sensory experiences.
Many individuals with autism also show exceptional talents, focus, or abilities in particular areas. At Regal Private Therapy Practice, our role is to provide a gold-standard, comprehensive autism assessment to help clarify whether autism is the best explanation for your or your child’s experiences.
What are the symptoms of Autism?
Social communication differences
Differences in using and understanding verbal and non-verbal communication.
May include challenges with back-and-forth conversation, interpreting tone of voice, or understanding facial expressions and gestures.
Social interaction differences
Differences in developing, maintaining, and understanding social relationships.
May involve finding social cues confusing, preferring structured interactions, or feeling more comfortable in predictable settings.
May find sustaining eye contact uncomfortable
Focused interests & preference for routine
A strong preference for routine and familiarity.
May struggle coping with change.
Engaging in repetitive movements, behaviours, or highly focused interests.
May include sensory differences (e.g. heightened sensitivity to sounds, taste, textures, smells, lights or touch).
Autism in children, teenagers, adults and females: key differences
Though the autism diagnostic criteria remains the same for everyone, autism can look different at every stage of life. From childhood through adulthood, and across genders, the signs and experiences may vary.
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May show as delayed speech or language development
May prefer to talk ‘at’ people than with them, focusing on own topics of interest
May show preference for activity based play over imaginative play or may play repetitively (such s lining up toys)
May interpret language literally (struggle to understand jokes, sarcasm or metaphors)
Difficulties making friends or percieved as bossy in play.
Distress at sudden changes in routine
May have frequently melt downs or intense anxiety
May display unusual movements such as hand-flapping, rocking or pacing especially if excited or overwhelmed
With the right support, children can thrive. Early recognition is key.
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Adolescence brings new academic and social demands, and autism symptoms may become more noticeable.
Increasingly visible through social challenges in school or peer groups.
May experience heightened anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or withdrawal as demands grow.
May feel unsure how to act in social settings.
May copy the body language or facial expressions of peers or TV characters to blend in.
May feel exhausted at the end of the school day from socialising, requiring long periods of alone time to recover.
Stimming behaviours my be concealed in public
This stage can be particularly stressful for families, but a clear assessment helps everyone understand what’s happening and strategies for support.
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Often appears as lifelong struggles with communication, or social connection or organisation.
Many adults seek assessment after recognising patterns of burnout, masking, or misdiagnosis earlier in life.
Many adults seek an autism assessment after their child receives a diagnosis due to recognising similar traits within themselves.
Recognising autism in adulthood can be life-changing, validating their struggles and offering understanding and practical strategies for success.
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Frequently under-recognised, as girls and women may mask (or consciously hide autistic traits) to fit into social settings.
This often leads to exhaustion, burnout, or increased anxiety after prolonged social effort.
Presentation often leans towards internalised struggles (anxiety, perfectionism) rather than outward behaviours.
In autistic girls, focused or “special” interests often centre on topics that appear typical for their age, such as animals, celebrities, fashion, or books. Because these interests look socially acceptable, they may not raise concerns, even if the intensity, depth, or exclusivity of the interest is unusual.
Many women do not receive a diagnosis until adulthood. Our assessments are tailored to spot these more subtle presentations, ensuring no one is overlooked.
At Regal Private Therapy Practice, our HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologists are highly skilled in recognising nuanced presentations or more subtle signs of autism particularly in high masking individuals, ensuring that nothing is overlooked during assessment.
Autism assessment & diagnosis process UK
At Regal Private Therapy Practice in London, our HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologists have been trained by the NHS and are highly experienced in conducting autism assessments in both the NHS and private settings.
Our autism assessments use a thorough, multi-method approach that gathers evidence from different sources and settings and utilises NICE recommended psychometric tools. This is to ensure nothing is missed and a reliable diagnosis with tailored recommendations is guaranteed.
As part of the assessment, we also consider whether there are other factors that may explain the symptoms or whether there are additional mental health difficulties that are co-existing with autism to provide a complete and holistic picture.
Step by step guide to your autism assessment with Regal
Step 1: Consultation
Book a free 15-minute no obligation call with a Clinical Psychologist. The clinician will ask about your experiences and what has brought you to seek an autism assessment for yourself or your child. They will guide you through what the assessment involves, check that it’s the right step for you, and answer any questions. Should you wish to proceed, the clinician will book you in for your assessment appointments later that week or at a time and day convenient for you.
Step 2: Questionnaires
After the consultation, you will be emailed questionnaires to complete in advance of your appointment. To give us the clearest picture, we will also ask you to complete short questionnaires about your mood or wellbeing to understand whether their maybe other explanations to your symptoms or other mental health symptoms also present.
Step 3: Private autism assessment (ADOS-2 & ADI-R)
ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) is conducted in person at our clinic with the individual being assessed. This is a structured appointment, lasting approximately two hours designed to observe social communication, interaction, and behavioural patterns.
The ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview) will be completed by a second clinician with a parent or someone who knew the individual well in early childhood. The appointment lasts approximately two hours which can be completed in person, or online either on the same day or different day depending on your preference.
Step 4: Team Discussion
Once the assessment is complete, the two clinicians co-score the assessment to ensure accuracy and reliability. Results are considered carefully from more than one expert perspective, giving you a balanced and thorough conclusion.
Step 5: Feedback, Report & Recommendations
Once all the assessments are complete, your clinician will meet with you for a feedback appointment lasting approximately 30 to 60 minutes to share whether the findings fulfil the criteria of Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is helpful to have a family member or partner present. You’ll have time to ask questions, and we’ll provide clear advice and recommendations tailored to you. The report can be shared with schools, universities, GPs or workplaces for reasonable adjustments. Even if autism isn’t the main explanation, we’ll guide you on helpful next steps to support your wellbeing.
Step 7: Treatment & Support
At Regal, we offer a range of options for support following an autism assessment that you may wish to pursue whether or not you received a diagnosis. At Regal, we offer neuro-affirmative post diagnostic support for adults and young people to support with coming to terms with a diagnosis, learn coping strategies and how to harness autism as a strength. Should there be co-occuring mental health symptoms, recommendations for treatment will be provided.
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At Regal Private Therapy Practice, we offer next-day consultations for autism assessments.
Same-week autism assessment appointments are usually available, so you don’t face the long NHS waiting lists.
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Once your autism assessment is complete and all questionnaires are returned, we provide a comprehensive written report within 2 weeks.
Reports include diagnostic outcome, clinical formulation, and tailored treatment recommendations.
This report is suitable to share with GPs, schools, universities, or workplaces if adjustments or support are required.
Fast turnaround means you can move forward quickly with support, or workplace accommodations.
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No referral is required. You can self-refer directly to Regal Private Therapy Practice by completing our short booking form or emailing us directly.