If you’ve been waiting a while for an NHS autism assessment, seeing a private clinician may have crossed your mind once or twice.
While going private has plenty of benefits, we know costs can often be the deciding factor for many. However, it may not actually cost as much as you might think.
To help, we’ve put together this blog to discuss how much a private autism assessment costs, what’s included in the price, how it’s funded, and the benefits of a private autism assessment.
How Much Does a Private Autism Assessment Cost?
In the UK, a private autism assessment can cost between £900 and £2,200. For a standard adult assessment, most practices will charge somewhere in the middle.
Child autism diagnosis costs more, as there are additional steps included that aren’t required for adults. On average, an autism assessment for a child costs around £2,000 compared to £1,500 for adults.
A more affordable pathway for autism diagnosis is to get an online assessment, which typically costs between £1,000 and £1,400.
However, it’s important to remember every provider will offer their own prices. For example, with us, assessments start from £650 for adults and £795 for children.
What’s Included in the Price of a Private Autism Assessment?
To get an accurate diagnosis, clinicians will include everything from initial research into history to comprehensive reports on their findings in a private autism assessment.
Not all providers will include the same steps in their autism diagnosis, but you can typically expect at least the following:
- Initial questionnaire
- Clinical interview
- Behaviour observations
- Diagnostic report
- Feedback meeting
You can explore additional steps, such as medication reviews or additional meetings to discuss their findings. However, these are dependent on the offerings of the clinic you go to. If these are of interest to you, always make sure they’re offered by the clinic before you book in.
What Affects the Cost of a Private Autism Assessment?
While average private autism assessment costs are useful to know before you make a decision, the prices can fluctuate in reality. But why is that? Let’s take a look.
- Location: The area you choose to get a private autism assessment can impact the cost. For example, costs in London are around 20% to 40% higher than in other areas of the UK. If travelling is possible for you, it may be cost-effective to explore clinics outside of your area to find the most affordable one.
- Provider: Different providers will have their own pricing structure. Prices will consider the steps taken in their assessment, as well as whether they provide medication support as part of it. Those who do assist with medication will often charge more than those who don’t.
- Assessment Length: As the clinician overseeing your assessment will be paid by the hour, how long your assessment takes will impact the price, too.
- Additional Requests: Most private autism assessors offer additional services, such as follow-up appointments, medication assessments, or even prescriptions. As these are charged separately, they can also change the total price you can expect to pay.
How Can I Fund a Private Autism Assessment?
We know one of the biggest concerns for many people considering a private autism assessment is how they’re going to pay for it. Well, there are a few common options.
Self-funding is the most common way to pay for an autism assessment, as it allows people to pay for the full cost upfront.
However, most places will also offer instalment plans for you to spread the cost if needed. These are usually 3, 6, 12, or 24 months.
While the NHS does have funding available, it’s reserved for very rare, exceptional cases. To receive it, you’ll need strong evidence to prove your case can’t be managed through standard NHS pathways.
What Are the Benefits of a Private Autism Assessment?
One of the biggest benefits of a private autism assessment is the ability to skip the long wait times often found with NHS assessments.
In fact, with an NHS assessment, you could be a minimum of 3 months to receive your diagnosis appointment. For heavily populated parts of the UK, wait times can go up to over a year. For example, expected wait times are around 2 years for those in Hounslow, West London.
With a private assessment, you’ll see a doctor for diagnosis within only a couple of weeks in most cases.
Plus, most private practices are flexible. You’ll be able to choose an appointment date, day, and time that works for you. If you’re working or have a child in school who needs an assessment, this flexibility makes an autism assessment much more convenient.
We Help You Get an Expert, Accurate Autism Diagnosis
Here at Neuroaffinity, we’re proud to support families across the UK with expert autism assessments for both adults and children.
With prices starting from £650 for adults and £795 for children, our services are competitive when compared to UK averages. You can also explore our additional services, such as medication assessments, to personalise your assessment to your needs.
If you’re ready to book in for yourself or a child in your care, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. You can reach us on 0776 856 5162 or send us an email to enquiries@neuroaffinity.co.uk.
