Type of service: Diagnostic services

Website: http://www.solihullautism.co.uk

Solihull Autism Assessment Service offers a timely, robust, neuroaffirmative and multi-disciplinary team assessment for children (7+ years) and adults, using extensively validated assessment tools recommended in NICE guidelines for the assessment and diagnosis of Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Collectively our team have many years experience in assessing adults and children, both in the NHS and in independent practice and we provide a professional, individualised and approachable service at all times. Our team subscribes to the neurodiversity-affirmative paradigm, many of us have lived experience of neurodivergence and our assessments and reports are conducted and written with a neurodiversity-affirmative approach; we do not only assess individual's 'problems', 'difficulties' or 'shortcomings' but instead consider their presentation holistically, noticing their strengths and abilities as much as their difference.

We view autism and ADHD as neurotypes; one of many that constitutes the varied and valuable neurodiversity that makes our modern population. Our assessments are based on our clinicians’ many years of clinical and personal experience and expertise as well as professional guidance and research into the most effective methods used to reliably assess for neurodivergence. Further, our entire team has interest, experience, expertise and specialist training in the assessment of women and girls in particular, as well as 'camouflaged' or 'masked' Autism and ADHD.

As a Psychology-led service, a psychological formulation is considered as an important part of the assessment process for each client. This is a framework to understand the connection between each person's individual characteristics, experiences and behaviours; with or without neurodivergence. This enables a particularly individual assessment outcome and individualised recommendations, rather than a simple diagnosis.
 

Gender: All genders

Referral Sources: NHS and Private

Approaches and tools used: ADOS-2 ADI-R DISCO ACE ACE+ DIVA QB Check AQ, ASRS, SNAP-IV, Wender-Utah, CCC2, Sensory Profile