An autism assessment is a process, not a single appointment. Its purpose is to help us understand your child more fully. Once you’ve completed the screening questionnaire and we have discussed with you that an autism assessment may be an appropriate next step, this process can begin.
At Sensibus, the assessment usually includes 4 parts:
1. Listening to parents and carers
We start by spending time with you. Your insights are central to the assessment.
We talk about your child’s development, communication, sensory experiences, and what helps them feel safe and regulated. We use recognised, evidence‑based assessment tools (ADI-R) to support these conversations and make sure important areas aren’t missed. This session can take place at The Hive, or via Microsoft Teams.
2. Spending time with your child
We observe and interact with your child in a calm, supportive way, in one of our friendly therapy rooms at The Hive.
This may involve play and shared activities, and noticing how your child communicates, responds to sensory input, and connects with others. We use well‑established, gold‑standard assessment tools in a flexible and child‑led way, adapting our approach so children feel as comfortable as possible.
3. School observation or education discussion
Depending on your child’s age, we also gather information from education. This may be:
- A school observation, or
- A discussion with education staff about learning, interaction, and support needs
This helps us understand how your child experiences different environments.
4. Bringing everything together
Our multidisciplinary team carefully brings all the information together. After the assessment, we share our understanding with you through:
- A feedback session at The Hive
- A written report
- Practical recommendations for home and school
We’ll explain everything clearly, without jargon, and make sure you have time to ask questions.
The aim isn’t to label your child. It’s to help them be understood – and to support your family moving forward with clarity and confidence, whether an autism diagnosis is given or not.