──── What to Expect
Autism Assessment
Learn more about the autism assessment process, what to expect, and the steps involved from Initial Clinical Assessment through to diagnosis. If you need further guidance or would like to begin, use the buttons below to send an enquiry or request an Initial Clinical Assessment.
──── Professional Autism Assessment
Adult autism assessment for adults aged 18+
This assessment is for adults who are wondering whether autism may explain long-standing differences or difficulties with social communication, sensory processing, routines, flexibility, masking, relationships, interests, work, education, or daily life.
The assessment is completed in line with DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria, recognised adult autism assessment methods, and Psychological Society of Ireland professional practice standards, incorporating structured clinical interview, developmental history, collateral information where available, autism-specific rating scales, sensory and executive functioning measures, direct clinical observation, review of relevant background documentation, and adapted use of tools such as ADOS-2 and ADI-R as part of the assessment process.
A thorough, evidence-based assessment to provide a clear and clinically informed understanding of your experiences.
Who is this for?
An adult autism assessment may be suitable if you are wondering whether autism could help explain some of your experiences, which may include differences or difficulties with:
- Social communication, understanding, and connection
- Sensory sensitivities and routines
- Difficulty with change, masking, or camouflaging
- Intense interests and focused attention
- Burnout, overwhelm, or social exhaustion
- Feeling different from others
- Work, education, or daily functioning
──── Adult autism assessment
Why an Initial Clinical Assessment is Needed
Autism assessment needs to consider the full clinical picture. Autism can overlap with ADHD, anxiety, trauma, depression, OCD, substance use, sleep difficulties, cognitive concerns, previous mental health diagnoses, personality-related difficulties, and other developmental or psychological factors.
Because of this, a brief screener alone is not enough to decide whether a full autism assessment is the right next step.
The Initial Clinical Assessment is the first stage of the assessment process. It gives time to understand your concerns, background, developmental history, current difficulties, mental health history, and any overlapping factors that may affect the assessment pathway.
This appointment is more than a brief screening call. It is a detailed clinician-led assessment that helps build an initial clinical picture, consider possible explanations for your difficulties, and identify the most appropriate next step.
In many cases, the Initial Clinical Assessment helps confirm whether a full autism assessment is appropriate. In some cases, another pathway may be more suitable. If that happens, you will receive clear professional guidance and recommendations about the most appropriate next step for your needs.
──── Your Assessment Journey
Autism Assessment Process and Pricing
Learn about each stage of the autism assessment process, from the Initial Clinical Assessment through to feedback, diagnosis, and pricing.
Enquiry or Booking
You contact OpenMind to make an enquiry or request an Initial Clinical Assessment.
Initial Clinical Assessment Booking
Initial Clinical Assessment Fee: €195
Once the Initial Clinical Assessment is booked and the €195 fee has been paid, you will receive screening and background forms to complete before the appointment.
These forms usually take around 15 to 20 minutes to complete. The forms help make the appointment focused and clinically useful. They are not used on their own to make a diagnosis or to decide the full assessment outcome.
The €195 Initial Clinical Assessment fee is part of the full autism assessment fee. It is not added on top.
Initial Clinical Assessment
The Initial Clinical Assessment usually lasts between 90 minutes and 2 hours.
This appointment explores your concerns, developmental history, current difficulties, mental health history, overlapping factors, and whether a full autism assessment is clinically appropriate.
It helps determine the most appropriate diagnostic pathway, whether further assessment is clinically indicated, and whether alternative or additional explanations should be considered.
After the Initial Clinical Assessment, you will receive a recommendation about the most appropriate next step. If a full autism assessment is recommended, the €195 already paid is deducted from the remaining balance.
Comprehensive Autism Diagnostic Assessment
Remaining Balance: €800 (including feedback session and full diagnostic report)
The autism clinical assessment interview focuses on your current presentation and developmental history in relation to DSM-5-TR autism criteria.
Overview of what each assessment includes:
- Structured clinical interview guided by DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria
- Detailed developmental history
- Review of current presentation
- Assessment of autism-related traits across childhood and adulthood
- Validated autism rating scales
- Sensory processing measures
- Executive functioning measures, where clinically indicated
- Collateral information from a parent, partner, sibling, or other informant, where available
- Review of previous reports, educational records, or relevant clinical documentation, where available
- Direct clinical observation of communication, interaction style, emotional expression, flexibility, and sensory presentation
- Adapted use of ADOS-2 and ADI-R as part of the assessment process
- Consideration of co-occurring or alternative explanations
- Diagnostic formulation mapped against DSM-5-TR criteria
- Feedback session and written diagnostic report with recommendations
Feedback and Diagnostic Report
The full autism assessment includes a feedback session and a written diagnostic report.
The report explains the information gathered, diagnostic reasoning, assessment outcome, and recommendations.
──── Pricing Summary
Autism Assessment Costs and Additional Information
Find everything you need to know about assessment costs, payment structure, and how the most appropriate assessment format is determined to support an accurate and reliable outcome.
Assessment Fees
- Initial Clinical Assessment: €195
Remaining balance if proceeding to full autism assessment: €800 (including feedback session and full diagnostic report)
- Total Adult Autism Assessment Fee: €995
The €195 Initial Clinical Assessment fee is included within the €995 total fee.
If you have already completed and paid for an ADHD or autism assessment with OpenMind and later proceed to the other assessment pathway, a second Initial Clinical Assessment is not required. In this case, the Initial Clinical Assessment fee is not charged again and is deducted from the cost of the second assessment.
Suitability for Online Assessment
Many adult autism assessments can be completed online when the presentation is suitable and enough information is available.
However, online assessment may not be suitable in every case. A face-to-face or extended assessment may be recommended where there is:
- Complex mental health or trauma histories
- Cognitive, learning, or personality-related concerns
- Self-harming behaviours, suicide risk, or conflicting previous opinions
In these cases, the aim is to choose the assessment format that gives the clearest and most clinically reliable picture.
Book an Initial Clinical Assessment
The first step is to contact us to make an enquiry or request an Initial Clinical Assessment. This provides an opportunity to discuss your concerns, ask questions about the assessment process, and explore whether an ADHD, autism, or AuDHD assessment may be the right next step. You will be guided through the process and told what to expect moving forward.
Clinician-Led Assessments
Evidence-Based Approach
Personalised Feedback
Supportive Assessment Process