ADHD and Autism Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Services for Adults

At the Cambridge Adult ADHD & ASD Clinic, we employ a comprehensive, evidence-based diagnostic process for assessing ADHD in adults. This approach has been carefully developed and refined over many years of specialised training and clinical practice at the University of Cambridge, in the NHS, and within the private sector. It offers a particularly thorough and structured evaluation tailored to each individual.

It consists of an in-depth, semi-structured psycho-social diagnostic interview that evaluates for adult ADHD and any other condition that might mimic its symptoms. The assessment typically takes between 2.5 and 4 hours to complete, sometimes more.

More specifically, on the day of the assessment, we will invite you and an informant. The informant is generally a parent who can provide reliable developmental history throughout early life to late adolescence, including prenatal and perinatal factors, early childhood behaviours, and information from the primary school years—details that are often difficult for adults to recall accurately. This is particularly important for adult ADHD assessment, as one of the criteria to assess is age of onset. If a parent is not available, or if the information collected during the assessment is not enough to provide a clear understanding of childhood history, school reports will be required.

During the assessment, a comprehensive psychiatric/psychological, childhood, and current history will be taken. ADHD symptoms will be assessed in detail according to the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria, including an assessment of symptom onset, persistence, pervasiveness across settings, functional impairment, and presentation type (inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or combined). The assessment also includes a screening evaluation of differential diagnoses, aimed at distinguishing genuine ADHD symptoms from other conditions or circumstances that may present with similar features—including, but not limited to, mood disorders (such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression), autism spectrum conditions, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personality disorders, and difficulties related to stress, sleep, or substance use. Due to the depth and rigour of the full ADHD assessment at our Clinic, as mentioned before, the process takes between 2.5 and 4 hours, sometimes more. Rarely, for clearer cases, the process may take around 2 to 2.5 hours.

Prior to the assessment, we will ask you and your informants to complete 14 standardised rating scales and questionnaires that screen for ADHD and other possible co-occurring or mimicking conditions. One of these will need to be completed by someone who has known you since childhood (again, usually a parent), while another should be completed by someone who has known you well in the past 6 months—such as a partner, friend, or colleague. These questionnaires are an important part of the diagnostic process but are never used in isolation. They are interpreted in the context of the clinical interview and other information gathered during the assessment. In addition, to ensure that the assessment is safe and clinically appropriate, we will request any available documentation regarding your psychological, psychiatric, and background history.

Following the assessment, you will receive a detailed diagnostic report. The report includes our conclusions, any diagnoses made, and personalised recommendations for treatment or further support. A post-assessment session is generally included to discuss next steps according to NICE guidlienes, which may involve psychoeducation or a referral to medical professionals for consideration of medication treatment.

For any medical input, we can provide exclusive access to trusted independent medical professionals. These professionals are fully independent and not employed by the Clinic, and we receive no financial benefit from sharing their details. All of the professionals we recommend have extensive experience in the treatment of adult ADHD and comorbid conditions, and align with our standards of care and values.

This mutual independence ensures that we are free to recommend professionals based solely on their expertise and experience.

Here at the Cambridge Adult ADHD & ASD Clinic, we employ the gold standard diagnostic process to assess and formally diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in adult, the Adult Asperger Assessment (AAA).

This evidence-based assessment was developed by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen and his team at the CLASS Clinic at the University of Cambridge (Professor Baron-Cohen was one of Dr. Pironti’s mentors during his PhD training at the Department of Psychiatry, at the University of Cambridge). The AAA is suggested by NICE guidelines and, for maximum accuracy, it is administered only by mental health professionals with extensive training and expertise in Autism Spectrum Conditions, Clinical Psychology, advanced clinical psychopathology, and differential diagnosis.

Our rigorous process is two-fold: it centres on the structured AAA, and integrates it with a full neurodevelopmental, mental health, and psychosocial evaluation. This ensures we achieve the highest level of diagnostic accuracy by thoroughly exploring your history and ruling out any other conditions.

More specifically, the AAA is the gold standard for reliable and accurate assessment of Autism, specifically in adults who do not present with general learning disabilities. This comprehensive assessment combines structured self-report measures, the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the Empathy Quotient (EQ and the Relative Questionnaire (RQ), with a detailed, expert-led semi-structured clinical interview. The AAA rigorously evaluates core areas of difference, including qualitative impairments in social interaction and communication, as well as restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behaviour and interests. Its structured approach ensures a thorough and reliable evaluation, providing a clear foundation for diagnosis and the development of personalized support strategies.

In addition, to increase diagnostic accuracy, the AAA is always conducted alongside a full comprehensive neurodevelopmental, mental health, and psychosocial assessment. This thorough evaluation aims not only to assess for Autism-related symptoms but also to identify any other possible differential diagnoses or comorbid mental health conditions. This comprehensive process requires input from the Client and an informant, typically a parent, to verify the age of onset and collect a full neurodevelopmental and psychosocial history, tracing development from prenatal life through infancy, childhood, adolescence, and the current developmental stage. During this evaluation, we specifically enquire about and assess the following areas:

• Physical & Psychiatric Health: Past and current physical health issues and mental health conditions, including screening for the presence of other neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Sensory and Cognitive Profile: Hyper- and/or hypo-sensory sensitivities and attention to detail.
• Functional Impact: Functioning at home, in education, or in employment, and relevant behavioural problems.

This rigorous approach helps us distinguish between true Autism symptoms and non-clinical contingencies that may mimic autism, ensuring a precise diagnosis and the development of personalized, evidence-based support strategies.

Prior to your appointment, you will complete seven standardized scales and we will ask an informant to complete one scale to provide an external perspective. The informant providing history should be someone who has known you since childhood (usually a parent), as verifying the age of onset is critical for the diagnosis. These questionnaires are never used in isolation; they are interpreted solely in the context of the clinical interview. In addition, to ensure the assessment is safe and clinically appropriate, please submit any available documentation regarding your psychological, psychiatric, and background history.

Following the comprehensive assessment, you will receive a detailed, formal diagnostic report. This report thoroughly documents our clinical findings, clearly outlines any diagnoses reached, and provides personalized, evidence-based recommendations tailored for your specific support needs or next steps.

A post-assessment feedback session is routinely included to discuss the report’s conclusions, as advised by NICE guidelines. This session focuses on collaboratively planning the next steps, which may encompass psychoeducation regarding the diagnosis, or facilitating a referral to appropriate medical professionals for discussions regarding potential pharmacological treatment options, especially if comorbid conditions are present and require attention.

For any medical input, we can provide exclusive access to trusted independent medical professionals. These professionals are fully independent and not employed by the Clinic, and we receive no financial benefit from sharing their details. All of the professionals we recommend have extensive experience in the treatment neurodevelopmental and comorbid conditions and align with our standards of care and values.

This mutual independence ensures that we are free to recommend professionals based solely on their expertise and experience.