Autism Assessments at Building Blocks Therapy

A supportive, comprehensive and child-centred approach

At Building Blocks Therapy, we offer specialist autism assessments for children and young people.

Our multidisciplinary team includes a Clinical Psychologist, Occupational Therapist and/or Speech and Language Therapist, bringing together expertise in child development, communication, sensory processing and emotional wellbeing.

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Assessment & reports

Stage 1 – Initial Screening and Consultation

The process begins with comprehensive screening, which may include questionnaires, screening forms and a consultation with one of our specialist team members.

This helps us understand your child’s developmental profile, explore any concerns and consider whether a full autism assessment is appropriate.

Following this stage, we will discuss our findings and advise whether further assessment is recommended.

woman in blue denim jacket kissing boy in blue button down shirt

Stage 2 – Comprehensive Autism Assessment

If a full assessment is recommended, this typically happens in two parts:

Part 1:

Developmental History: A structured telephone interview with a parent or caregiver, usually lasting between 1½ and 3 hours, exploring your child’s early development, communication, social interactions, behaviour and everyday experiences.

Part 2:

Child Assessment: A face-to-face appointment at our clinic, usually lasting up to one hour. Although structured assessment tools are used, the session is presented in a relaxed, informal way through play, activities and conversation.

School aged Children are usually assessed separately from their parents, although we can accommodate parental presence where needed. Breaks and refreshments are offered, and children are welcome to bring favourite snacks.

Information from Other Settings: We will also seek information from your child’s school or other relevant environments, with your consent, to develop a fuller understanding of how they communicate, interact and manage in different settings.

Assessment Tools: We use recognised diagnostic assessments, including the ADOS-2 and ADI-R. Additional language, sensory processing or psychological assessments may be recommended depending on your child’s individual needs.

Findings and Recommendations

Following the assessment, our multidisciplinary team will review all the information gathered to reach a diagnostic conclusion.

You will receive a comprehensive written report outlining the findings, diagnostic outcome and practical recommendations for supporting your child at home, in education and in everyday life.

Fees

Assessment fees vary depending on your child’s individual needs and the assessments required. We will discuss these with you before proceeding. If the child does not need to proceed to the next stage of testing then no further fee will be charged after each stage.

Our aim is not simply to reach a diagnosis, but to help families better understand their child’s unique strengths, differences and needs, and identify the support that will help them thrive.