Combined assessment

Why consider both?

Many adults who begin looking into ADHD find that some of their experiences do not quite fit the ADHD picture, or that explanations they have read about autism also ring true. The reverse is equally common: someone exploring autism recognises that difficulties with attention, impulsivity, or restlessness have been part of their life for as long as they can remember.

ADHD and autism frequently travel together: someone diagnosed with autism is far more likely than the general population to also meet the criteria for ADHD. Because the traits overlap, and because addressing one while missing the other rarely works, understanding each condition matters — they interact in ways that affect daily life, relationships, and what kind of support is most likely to help.

A combined assessment is designed to answer both questions thoroughly in a single process, rather than requiring two separate assessments that may miss the way these conditions overlap. For a fuller discussion of why the two conditions so often co-occur in adults, see the guide to ADHD and autism together.

What to expect

The assessment takes place over three 60-minute appointments by secure video link, so you can attend from wherever is most comfortable for you. The additional session allows Dr Crocker to give both conditions the time and attention they deserve without rushing either.

Dr Crocker has a reputation for being relaxed and non-judgemental; if you are looking for a psychiatrist in a bow tie, you have come to the wrong clinic. Small talk, eye contact and humour are all pitched to suit you, and he will always look for the least stressful route to understanding your difficulties.

How the appointments work

The first appointment is mostly about getting to know one another and building a picture of your life so far. Dr Crocker asks about your developmental history from early childhood, including how you got on socially, your friendships, when and how your communication developed, and your sensory experiences. His interest is in your internal experience of these things, not only what others would have noticed. He also asks about any previous contact with psychiatrists or psychologists, your physical health, the ways you have learned to cope, and your family history.

The second appointment is the more structured part, covering the features of both conditions. For autism this means social communication and interaction, repetitive and restricted behaviours and interests, and sensory processing; for ADHD it means a closer look at inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, and the impact these have from day to day. Where it adds something, Dr Crocker may use a structured diagnostic interview such as the DIVA. The structure is deliberate, but for many people simply telling their story, with Dr Crocker listening, is just as effective. He will also observe how you present during the consultation; this is never about judging you, and it is intended to strengthen rather than replace what you tell him.

The third appointment looks in more detail at your symptoms and their impact, draws the picture together, and turns to what happens next. This is where Dr Crocker explains his conclusions, sets out the reasoning behind them, and discusses treatment options, including a prescription where that is appropriate.

Throughout these sessions, Dr Crocker draws on multiple sources of evidence to build a thorough clinical picture:

• A detailed clinical interview covering your developmental history from early childhood through to adult life, including education, friendships, social development, communication, work, relationships, sensory experiences, and how things are for you day to day.
• A semi-structured ADHD diagnostic interview using validated tools including the ASRS and Barkley Current and Childhood Symptoms Scales. The Barkley scales are completed by both you and, where possible, someone who knew you as a child and knows you well now, providing independent perspectives across both developmental periods. Additional structured diagnostic instruments are used where clinically indicated. This is not a tick-box exercise; Dr Crocker uses open questions and real-life examples to understand how symptoms show up in your life.
• An autism-focused diagnostic interview covering social communication and interaction, restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests, and sensory processing. The focus is on your internal experience of these things, not just what was visible to others, guided by your individual story rather than a rigid checklist.
• Behavioural observation during the consultation itself. The way you communicate, process questions, and interact during the assessment all form part of the clinical picture. These observations are noted carefully throughout all three sessions.
• Validated rating scales. The autism component includes a full suite of validated instruments: the AQ-50, EQ-40, RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale – Revised), CAT-Q (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire), and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. The CAT-Q measures camouflaging directly, which makes it particularly valuable for women and others who have learned to mask. The ADHD component adds measures such as the Barkley Functional Impairment Scale. These are useful tools, but they are never the whole picture.
• A collateral history from a family member or someone who knew you in childhood, obtained with your consent. This may include completing the informant versions of the Barkley scales as well as contributing to the clinical history. This helps establish whether features were present during the developmental period, which both ICD-11 and NICE guidance require for a diagnosis of either condition.
• Review of any available supporting records, such as school reports, educational psychology assessments, previous psychiatric correspondence, or your GP clinical summary.

The specific combination of tools and measures used is tailored to each individual, based on what will provide the greatest diagnostic clarity for their particular presentation. Other validated instruments may be incorporated where the clinical picture is complex or where coexisting conditions need to be explored further. The practice has expanded its autism battery to include the RAADS-R and the CAT-Q, recognising that several of the traditional measures are less helpful for picking up the way symptoms show in women.

School reports, educational psychology reports and commentary from family or friends — whether they knew you as a child or know you now — can all add useful balance. They are genuinely helpful, but please do not let their absence put you off; the assessment itself is the gold standard, and people with ADHD have a particular talent for losing their school reports.

Clinical standards

All assessments are conducted in accordance with the relevant national and international clinical guidelines. The ADHD component follows NICE NG87, SIGN 145, and ICD-11 diagnostic criteria, in line with the AQAS (ADHD Quality Assured Service) standard. The autism component follows NICE CG142 and ICD-11 criteria. Each condition is assessed against its own diagnostic framework, ensuring that one does not overshadow the other.

Differential diagnosis

A key strength of the combined assessment is that Dr Crocker considers both conditions at the same time, which means he can distinguish between features that belong to ADHD, features that belong to autism, and features that reflect the interaction between the two. He also carefully considers whether other conditions might better explain your difficulties or coexist alongside ADHD and autism. Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, complex trauma, sleep problems, personality traits, and substance use can all overlap with or mimic neurodevelopmental conditions, and getting this right matters. ICD-11 requires that the clinical picture is not better accounted for by another condition, and this applies independently to both the ADHD and autism components of the assessment.

After the assessment

Unlike some clinics, we will not leave you waiting weeks for a letter confirming or ruling out a diagnosis; you will know where you stand by the end of the assessment. And if autism or ADHD turns out not to be the answer, the natural next question is what else might be going on, and how we can work together to put it right.

You will receive a comprehensive written report setting out the diagnostic findings for both ADHD and autism, the evidence supporting each conclusion, and clear recommendations. The report addresses each condition separately and also explains how they relate to one another in your case. This report is addressed to you and, with your consent, shared with your GP.

If ADHD is confirmed, your report will include a proposed medication plan and a clear explanation of what happens next, including how titration works and what monitoring is needed. Once your medication and dose are stable, Dr Crocker will look to establish a shared care arrangement with your GP so that routine prescribing and physical health monitoring can transfer to the NHS. We will only submit a formal shared care request where there is a reasonable prospect of it being accepted, which is one of the reasons we encourage early GP involvement. Not everyone with ADHD wants or needs medication, and we will discuss all the options, but many people we diagnose do choose to explore it and find it helpful.

If autism is confirmed, the report will include practical guidance on next steps, which may include workplace adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, referral to support services, psychological therapy suited to autistic adults, or further assessment for coexisting conditions.

Not every assessment results in a diagnosis, and nor should it. A rigorous assessment must be willing to reach any conclusion the evidence supports. If the picture is different — if one condition is confirmed but not the other, or if neither is confirmed — you will still receive a thorough formulation explaining what is likely contributing to your difficulties, with clear recommendations for next steps. An assessment is never wasted.

Who this is for

This service is for adults aged 18 and over who suspect they may have both ADHD and autism, or who are uncertain which condition best explains their difficulties and want both questions answered in a single, thorough process. Dr Crocker accepts self-referrals directly, and no GP referral letter is required. However, we do recommend letting your GP know you are being assessed. If ADHD is confirmed, treatment often involves controlled medications, and we will normally require a summary of your medical history from your GP before any controlled medication can be prescribed. Where there is a delay in obtaining GP records, we may take alternative steps to verify key safety information before prescribing. Early GP involvement also makes shared care arrangements easier to set up later.

If you have already been assessed for one condition and are now wondering about the other, a combined assessment can still be the right approach, as it allows the new question to be considered in the context of what is already known.

If you are confident that your difficulties relate to only one condition, you may prefer a standalone ADHD assessment or autism assessment. For more on the private autism pathway in Scotland, see the guide to private autism assessment in Scotland.

Fees

Combined ADHD and autism assessment (3 sessions × 60 minutes): £1,300.

Combined ADHD-and-autism pathways elsewhere in Scotland can reach £3,200 (prices checked July 2026). Our fee is £1,300 — the same NICE-aligned assessment standards, from a HIS-regulated psychiatric practice that also prescribes and provides ongoing care, corresponding directly with your GP.

Follow-up appointments (30 minutes): £130.

Private prescriptions: £30 per prescription for controlled medications (ADHD stimulants such as methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine), or £25 for non-controlled medications. The cost of the medication itself is paid directly to your dispensing pharmacy and varies depending on the drug and dose. See our medication cost guide for typical prices.