Autism and ADHD Assessments and Neurodiversity Support

Autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates, relates to others, and interprets the world around them. It is recognized as a ‘spectrum’ condition, highlighting the diverse range of experiences that autistic individuals may have. Each person possesses a unique combination of traits and features, varying in intensity. The differences displayed by autistic people can influence their language use, social interactions, emotional regulation, interests, and responses to sensory input. Co-occurring conditions may include sensory processing difficulties, mental health challenges, attentional deficits, hyperactive traits, demand-avoidant behaviors, and learning difficulties. Our assessments will identify any attentional and hyperactive traits, including those relevant to ADHD and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA).  

ADHD

The diagnostic criteria for ADHD conceptualizes this as an attentional deficit. However individuals with ADHD are perhaps better described as having a form of hyper-attention. ADHDers  experience all stimuli at once and these stimuli all fight for attention, making it difficult to attend to any one thing. The exception is when the ADHDer is absorbed in something interesting which indicates that they experience hyperfocus in much the same way that autistics do.   In females, ADHD can be more difficult to discern and have a different quality to ADHD in males. While males might display more overt hyperactive and impulsive behaviours, females are more likely to exhibit inattention and suppress hyperactive behaviour due to a wish to comply. They internalize their struggles leading to symptoms such as low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.  Sensory processing difficulties often trigger emotional dysregulation, which can present as hypomania. Females are more likely to develop compensatory and masking strategies, and signs that they are not coping may follow months of struggling, eventually resulting in burn out.   

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Our assessments are compliant with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), guidelines and can be used when applying for a local authority, education or employment adjustments and support. We combine information from a number or sources and include the use of standardised diagnostic tools, recommended by the NICE guidelines and considered to be the ‘gold standard’ measures in the evaluation of autism and ADHD. Our assessments provide insights into you or your child's differences, identifying specific needs and recommendations to ensure appropriate adjustments can be made in home, educational, training, and employment settings. For children and young people, a diagnostic assessment can contribute to an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP), supporting their overall neurodiversity support.

Adult autism assessments for individuals over sixteen, are undertaken by Deborah Cullinan, BA Hons, Psychotherapist, in collaboration with Dr. Eleanor Akaho, Psychiatrist, MBChB, MRCPsych. 

Adult ADHD assessments are undertaken by Deborah Cullinan in collaboration with either Dr. Catherine Fava Chartered Clinical Psychologist or Dr. Eleanor Akaho.

Child and adolescent autism and ADHD assessments are conducted jointly by Deborah Cullinan and Dr. Catherine Fava.