What to Expect
A practical guide to neurodevelopmental assessment: what to prepare, what happens during assessment, and what you should receive afterwards.
Before the assessment
Being prepared helps make the most of assessment time.
- Baby/child health record if you have it
- Pregnancy and birth details
- Milestone information (when they walked, talked, etc.)
- Any previous assessments or reports
- Medical history including sleep and eating
- School reports
- Any SEND documentation
- Teacher observations
- Behaviour logs if available
- Previous educational assessments
- Concrete examples of your concerns
- What situations are difficult
- What helps and what doesn't
- How long concerns have been present
- Impact on daily life
- Write down questions you want answered
- Note anything you want to make sure is discussed
- Consider what you want from the assessment
- Think about what you already know about your child
During the assessment
Detailed questions
Clinician will ask about development, behaviour, and concerns in detail.
Tip: Be honest and specific. Give real examples.
Observation of your child
For autism, this may be structured (ADOS-2). For ADHD, may be more informal.
Tip: Don't worry if your child doesn't show "typical" behaviour - assessors understand variability.
Multiple sessions (possibly)
Comprehensive assessment often takes more than one appointment.
Tip: This is a good sign of thoroughness, not something to worry about.
Questions about family history
ADHD and autism have genetic components. Family history is relevant.
Tip: Think about whether anyone in the family has similar traits, diagnosed or not.
Discussion of alternatives
Good assessors consider what else might explain difficulties.
Tip: This isn't dismissing your concerns - it's being thorough.
Documents you should receive
- Background and history summary
- Assessment methods used
- Observations made
- Diagnostic criteria addressed
- Clear diagnostic conclusion
- Reasoning for the conclusion
- Recommendations for support
- Scores from rating scales
- Results of specific tests used
- Interpretation of scores
- Specific recommendations for home
- Recommendations for school
- Suggested referrals to other services
- Information about local support
- Resources for further reading
Questions to ask
You have every right to ask questions. Here are some useful ones:
- What evidence led to this diagnosis?
- What other conditions did you consider?
- How confident are you in this diagnosis?
- Is there anything that made diagnosis difficult?
- Could symptoms be explained by anything else?
- What are my child's particular strengths?
- What are their main areas of challenge?
- How might this affect them at different ages?
- Should we screen for any co-occurring conditions?
- What support do you recommend?
- Should we consider any specific therapies?
- What should school be doing?
- Should we be referred to any other services?
- What about medication (for ADHD)?
- Will there be any follow-up?
- Who should we contact if we have questions?
- When will we receive the written report?
- Who should we share the report with?
"What if my child doesn't "perform" during assessment?"
Assessors understand children vary. They look at patterns, not single moments. That's why history is so important.
"Will they think I'm a bad parent?"
Neurodevelopmental conditions are not caused by parenting. Good clinicians know this.
"What if they don't diagnose when there's clearly something?"
You can seek a second opinion. Document your concerns and ask for the reasoning.
"What if they diagnose when I'm not sure?"
Ask questions about the evidence. You don't have to immediately act on a diagnosis.
"Will diagnosis label my child forever?"
Diagnosis is information. It helps access support. It doesn't define your child.
After diagnosis
Take time to process
A diagnosis can bring many emotions. Give yourself time to adjust.
Read the report carefully
Note any questions or things you don't understand to follow up on.
Share with school
School needs to know to provide appropriate support. Share the report.
Explore recommended support
Follow up on referrals and recommendations.
Connect with others
Parent support groups can be invaluable for shared experience.
Learn more
Understanding your child's neurology helps you support them.
Right to information
You should receive a clear explanation of the diagnosis and reasoning.
Right to ask questions
You can ask for clarification on anything you don't understand.
Right to a written report
You should receive written documentation of the assessment.
Right to a second opinion
If you disagree or have concerns, you can seek another assessment.
Right to decline diagnosis
You don't have to accept a diagnosis, though this may affect access to support.
Right to confidentiality
Information should only be shared with your consent.
Assessment is a partnership. You are the expert on your child. The clinician is the expert on neurodevelopmental conditions. Good assessment brings these perspectives together.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, share your observations, or express concerns. The goal is understanding your child better, and you are essential to that process.