Can you summarise what the assessment journey will look like for my child?

The journey to getting a neurodevelopmental assessment can be long and stressful. But ProblemShared makes the whole process accessible and affirming. Here's what you can expect from your/your child's journey.

1. Enrolment

First, you need to be referred to our service by your GP. Once this has happened, we will send you (or the parent/caregiver of children and young people) some digital forms to complete before the assessment can take place.

If you are having an assessment for autism or ADHD, a form will also need to be completed by someone called your 'informant'. An informant is a person appointed by you, who knows you very well. Your informant should be able to describe any potential signs of a neurodevelopmental condition that you displayed during your childhood, or that you display currently, and how this impacts your functioning. In a child or young person’s case, this can be the parent/caregiver.

These digital forms are designed to provide your clinician with background developmental history, and any current challenges you or your child may be facing, enabling them to spend more time discussing what is important to you during your actual assessment.

Once you have submitted the completed forms to us, you will be deemed "assessment-ready". Once we have approved your forms, we will contact you to let you know that you have been added to the waitlist for an assessment.

2. Assessment

ADHD Assessment (120 mins) - consultation, followed by a verbal diagnosis session which normally happens on the same day.

Autism Assessment (60-120 mins) & Informant Interview (180 mins) - these are two separate interviews, or in the case of a child or young person being assessed, there will be the assessment with the child or young person, and then the Informant Interview without the child or young person. The diagnostic outcome follows in a separate meeting.

Specific Learning Differences Assessment (180-240 mins with breaks) - this is one session with breaks conducted by a level 7 SpLD assessor, where standardised tests are administered. This is followed by a 30-minute follow-up feedback session. Please note that an adult must be present to attend both the assessment and the feedback session for clients 16 years and under. Child-age clients do not need to attend the feedback session, although they can if they would like.

3. Report

Within 4-6 weeks of your assessment, you will receive a detailed written report complete with recommendations, resources and information about next steps.

4. Post-diagnostic care

Following the completion of your online assessment, you will receive your diagnosis, and you will be invited to consider your post-diagnostic support options.

These include:

• Psychoeducation sessions
• Prescribing of ADHD medication, where appropriate
• Education navigation for children and young people

If you require additional mental health support at any stage of your journey, you will be eligible to be referred to the ProblemShared talk therapy service.