Autism & ADHD Assessment Hub

12/10/2026

Did you know?

When you book an Initial Consultation with Autism & ADHD Assessment Hub, you can also choose to add dyslexia and dyspraxia screening.

For some people, autism or ADHD isn't the whole picture.

Looking at a broader neurodevelopmental profile can help ensure you receive the most appropriate recommendations and support.

https://www.autismassessmenthub.co.uk/assessments/

We offer private autism & ADHD assessments from highly experienced assessors. Discover more information via the Autism & ADHD Assessment Hub website.

02/10/2026

✨ Meet the Clinician: Helen Hallewell ✨

We're delighted to introduce Helen Hallewell, one of our experienced clinicians here at Autism & ADHD Assessment Hub, part of the Antser Group.

Helen is a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and HCPC Registered, with over 20 years of experience supporting children, young people and adults with their speech, language and communication needs.

Since qualifying in 2005, Helen has worked across both the NHS and independent sector, supporting people at different stages of life. She has developed a particular interest in autism and neurodiversity, including understanding the different ways people communicate, interact and experience the world.

Helen has also been part of a multidisciplinary team carrying out specialist autism assessments since 2017 and completed her ADOS-2 training in 2022.
When it comes to assessments, Helen's priority is creating a welcoming and relaxed environment where people can feel comfortable being themselves. She takes time to build rapport with children and young people, while giving adults the time and space to reflect on and share their experiences in their own way.

Her hope is that everyone finishes their assessment feeling listened to, respected and valued, with their individual strengths, needs and lived experiences recognised.

Outside of work, Helen enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new places, planning holidays, going to the theatre, seeing live comedy and enjoying walks in nature. With two children, she's also become surprisingly knowledgeable about Minecraft and Lego!

And of course, she's happiest with a good chat, a cuppa and a big slice of cake!

As Helen says:
💙 "You don't stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing."

Helen believes that curiosity, connection and having fun are important at every age, including during an assessment.

We're proud to have Helen as part of our clinical team, helping individuals and families feel understood and supported throughout their assessment journey.

01/10/2026

Keep instructions short and specific

When someone is feeling overwhelmed, distracted or processing lots of information at once, long instructions can be difficult to take in.

Instead of:

"Go upstairs, get dressed, brush your teeth, pack your bag and don't forget your water bottle."

Try:

"Let's start with getting dressed."

Breaking tasks into smaller steps can reduce overwhelm and make it easier to get started.

This can be helpful for autistic people, people with ADHD and anyone who finds organisation or processing information challenging.

Sometimes, it's not about motivation. It's about making the next step clear.

28/09/2026

MYTH VS FACT: If someone can make eye contact, they can't be autistic.

Myth.

Autism doesn't look the same in every person, and being able to make eye contact does not rule out autism.

Some autistic people make eye contact naturally. Others may find it uncomfortable, distracting or overwhelming. Some may have also learnt to use eye contact because of social expectations, even if it doesn't feel natural to them.

This is why autism can't be identified by looking for one particular trait.

A comprehensive assessment considers the wider picture, including a person's developmental history, communication, social interaction, behaviours and individual experiences.

Autism is a spectrum of experiences, not a checklist of stereotypes.

Moving beyond these assumptions helps us better understand and support autistic people as individuals.

25/09/2026

For some families, recognising that their young child may be autistic can raise lots of questions.

At Autism & ADHD Assessment Hub, we now offer specialist Under-5 Autism Assessments for children aged 3 and over, designed specifically with younger children in mind.

Our Under-5 Express Clinic is currently available in Solihull, Liverpool, Manchester and London.

The assessment is delivered in line with NICE guidance and led by a GMC-registered Consultant Paediatrician, supported by a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist who completes the ADOS-2 as part of the assessment.

We aim to make the process as straightforward as possible for families, with appointments taking place across one day and reduced waiting between appointments. In many cases, families can receive a verbal outcome before leaving, followed by a detailed diagnostic report shortly afterwards.

Our Clinical Directors, Dr Zoe McGovern and Dr Jessica Donohoe, oversee our clinical approach and are committed to providing thorough, child-centred assessments that look at the whole picture.

If you're considering an autism assessment for your child and would like to find out more, speak to our friendly team today.

23/09/2026

Can autistic people understand sarcasm?

It’s a common misconception that autistic people don’t understand jokes, sarcasm or humour.

In reality, autistic people can absolutely enjoy and use sarcasm, irony and humour. However, some people may find certain types of indirect communication more difficult to interpret, particularly when meaning depends heavily on tone, context or unspoken social rules.

And, as with all aspects of autism, there is no one way to experience communication.

Some autistic people may prefer direct communication, while others may be highly sarcastic themselves.

The important thing is to look beyond stereotypes and understand the individual.

Autism doesn't mean someone can't understand humour. It means communication may sometimes be experienced differently.

21/09/2026

Needing support doesn't mean you're incapable.

Sometimes, the things that look simple to others can take significantly more energy for a neurodivergent person.

That might mean needing reminders, asking for instructions to be repeated, taking breaks, using sensory supports or having someone alongside you to get started.

Support isn't a measure of what you can achieve.

It's about removing unnecessary barriers so you can use your strengths more effectively.

There is no shame in finding what works for you.

18/09/2026

For this family, their son's assessment provided more than a diagnosis. It helped them better understand his experiences and gave school clearer information about how they could support him.

After a lot of research, they chose Autism & ADHD Assessment Hub for their 14-year-old son and described the whole experience as easy, with the team being understanding and approachable throughout.

They told us:

"As a family we are all a lot more understanding of what my son is feeling and more patient with him."

They also shared that school had accepted the assessment report and felt it was a very good report, helping them put the correct support in place as their son moves into Year 10.

We know that seeking an assessment can be a big decision for families. Our aim is to make the process as clear and supportive as possible, while providing detailed reports that help families, schools and other professionals better understand the individual.

Thank you to this family for taking the time to share their experience with us.

14/09/2026

More than one piece of the puzzle?

Sometimes autism or ADHD isn't the whole picture.

At Autism & ADHD Assessment Hub, we offer a range of assessment pathways designed to help individuals and families better understand their neurodevelopmental profile.

Alongside our autism and ADHD assessments, we also offer:

Dyslexia assessments

Dyspraxia assessments

Our aim isn't simply to identify a diagnosis. It's to understand the individual, recognise strengths and identify where additional support may be helpful.

With 40+ hubs across the UK, we're continuing to make specialist assessment more accessible for children and adults.

If you're wondering whether an assessment could help you or your child gain greater clarity, speak to our friendly team.

Visit our website or get in touch with us to find out more - https://www.autismassessmenthub.co.uk/

11/09/2026

A diagnosis doesn't define you. Understanding can empower you.

An autism, ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia diagnosis is one part of someone's story.

It doesn't tell us everything about their personality, their abilities, their interests, their ambitions or the things that make them uniquely themselves.

For many people, however, understanding their neurodevelopmental profile can provide an explanation for experiences that may previously have felt confusing or frustrating.

It can help individuals recognise their strengths, understand their support needs and communicate those needs to the people around them.

At AAH, we believe assessment should look beyond difficulties.

It's about understanding the whole person.

And sometimes, having the right words to describe your experiences can be the beginning of something really positive.