Online v in person ASD assessment

[Rain1975]

GP has advised DD 16 have an assessment for autism via Right to Choose. We are now researching all the different companies on the list he gave us to check for ICB funding and wait times but some offer online only appointments some in person and some a mix of the two.

DD is incredibly anxious and shuts down when things become too much. I would feel more confident she would express herself better with in person appointments but it’s not about me and DD is just overwhelmed by the thought of having to speak to anyone anyway.

I really don’t know the best appointment type for her and would be grateful to hear of anyone else’s experiences.

Thanks

Go for face to face. Online only autism assessments should be avoided in the main. Much harder for the clinician to see body language etc. ICBs have been advised of this and are being guided towards stopping funding for organisations that offer online assessments only. Some assessment tools are also only clinically acceptable if used face to face.

My son got in touch with ADHD360. They diagnose for ADHD and for Autism and you can self refer. His assessment was online which was easier than face to face as he has agoraphobia. The assessor was really nice and gave breaks during it. It was done via zoom.

OT, but curious about ICB's stopping online assessments. From what I've seen majority of Right to Choose assessments is done remotely.

My DS (15) assessments were remote, but with one F2F. I thought this was a perfect mix and seemed appropriate at that age. For young children I can see why F2F only is likely necessary.

Our GP recommended an autism assessment via Right to Choose. We're exploring options for ICB funding and wait times, but some providers offer online, in-person, or hybrid sessions. My daughter, who struggles with anxiety, might feel more comfortable in-person, but I’m unsure what’s best for her. I’ve heard online assessments can be less overwhelming for some.that might be very helpful for me (https://autismdetect.co.uk ).My experience was very positive; the online assessment helped reduce my daughter's anxiety, and she felt much more comfortable. This option proved to be quite helpful for us.