Neurodevelopmental assessments for ADHD and Autism involve the participation of a third party who can provide information about the person being assessed. This third party is known as an Informant, and their input makes up an important part of the process.
Sometimes, it can be challenging to understand the role of an Informant and how to select the best one for you. To make this as easy as possible, we've gathered some advice to help.
This article explains what an Informant is, why they are needed for Autism and ADHD assessments, who can act as an informant, and what to expect during the process.
Contents
1. What is an Informant?
2. When is an Informant required?
3. Why is an Informant needed?
4. Who can be an Informant?
5. What if I don’t have a suitable Informant?
6. What does an Informant need to do?
7. Confidentiality and Consent
8. Accessibility and Language Support
What is an Informant?
An Informant is someone who knows you well and can share information about your development, behaviour, and daily experiences to support the assessment process.
Their input helps clinicians build a full understanding of your strengths, differences, and early history.
If you have been asked to act as someone’s Informant, we have prepared some helpful guidance for you on what you need to know to be the best Autism informant and what you need to know to be the best ADHD informant.
When is an Informant required?
Informants are needed for:
- Autism assessments
- ADHD assessments
Informants are not required for Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) assessments.
Why is an Informant needed?
Informants help provide:
- Early childhood information
- Developmental milestones
- Social, emotional, and behavioural history
- Medical or school-related history
- Real-life examples of current challenges or strengths
This context ensures a more accurate and well-rounded assessment.
Who can be an Informant?
Preferably, the Informant will be someone who:
- Knows you well
- Is older than you
- Can provide information about childhood and early development
- Has regular contact with you
Some examples would include a parent, caregiver or guardian. If one of these is not available for you, an alternative Informant could be:
- Someone who has known you for at least 3 years
- Sees you frequently (e.g., several times a week)
- Has ideally lived with you at some point
Examples would include a long-term partner, close friend or housemate, or in some cases a sibling or adult child.
You can also have more than one Informant if you wish. They should each complete their own questionnaire, even if they're only filling out one section.
Our website has more useful information on choosing the best Informant for your Autism assessment and for your ADHD assessment.
What if I don’t have a suitable Informant?
If you're unable to choose a suitable Informant, there are alternative options available to you, such as acting as your own Informant if needs be.
You can contact our team directly for help deciding what the best choice is for you.
What does an Informant need to do?
The Informant will be asked to:
1. Complete an Informant Questionnaire
This questionnaire covers several areas of the background of the person being assessed, including:
- Early childhood and development
- Social and emotional experiences
- Educational and medical history
- Current behaviours and presentation
2. Attend an Informant Interview
This semi-structured interview is a video consultation with an assessor that runs alongside the assessment itself. It focuses mostly on early development and current behaviours of the person being assessed and can last up to three hours.
Please note that the Informant Interview is not required for ADHD assessments.
Confidentiality and Consent
Information provided by an Informant may be included in the assessment if it contributes to a clinical decision.
If there is something an informant does not want someone to see, they should clearly mark this in the Questionnaire. In these cases, sensitive information will still be used internally by clinicians but will not be shared with the person or added to their official report.
Accessibility and Language Support
We aim to make the Informant process accessible for everyone. If the Informant requires reasonable adjustments or support with accessibility, please contact us so we can ensure they are comfortable and supported.
Similarly, if any support is required with language, interpretation or translation, we will work with you to provide this.
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