Autism is a developmental disorder, which means that its symptoms typically appear in early childhood. Therefore, to make an accurate diagnosis, it is essential that we spend time talking about the early developmental years. 

Our private autism assessment is carried out by a multidisciplinary team and consists of four elements. Developmental history is part of the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorder (‘DISCO’) or Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (‘ADI-R’).*

The other 3 elements include:

• ADOS – Face to face assessment using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. 
• Face to face speech and language assessment. (young people only) 
• Review of information from education/work and/or other third parties.

We understand that for some people this part of the process is unnerving and we want to reassure you that you are in an autism safe space. We make the process as comfortable as possible and it takes the form of a semi-structured interview with a trained professional.

For children, this part of the assessment will involve the parent or caregiver. If you are an adult seeking an autism diagnosis, this can be more difficult as you will be recalling childhood memories. Therefore, we ideally need a parent or carer to come with you to help with questions regarding pregnancy and early years. If they are unable to attend, we can send a questionnaire for them to complete. 

It is important to highlight that many adults develop coping strategies and successfully adapt to manage their autism symptoms. This part of the assessment can be very enlightening as you begin to understand your childhood and how these strategies developed. 

To help alleviate any concerns or fears, we have detailed below why developmental history is such an important part of an autism assessment. 

1. Early Identification of Symptoms

• Onset and Progression: Understanding when symptoms first appeared and how they have progressed helps us to identify the early signs of autism. Many symptoms of autism, such as delays in speech or social skills, start in early childhood.
• Regression: Some children with autism may develop typically and then regress, losing previously acquired skills. Documenting this regression is important for accurate diagnosis.

2. Differentiating Autism from Other Disorders

• Comparison to Typical Development: Developmental history provides a baseline for comparing an individual’s progress to typical developmental milestones. This helps to distinguish autism from other developmental disorders and intellectual disabilities.
• Identifying Co-occuring Conditions: It helps to identify other co-occurring conditions, such as ADHD, anxiety disorders, or learning disabilities, that can influence the overall assessment and intervention strategies.

3. Comprehensive Understanding of the Individual

• Behavioural Patterns: Understanding an individual’s history provides insights into persistent patterns of behaviour, social interaction, and communication over time.
• Contextual Factors: We are able to consider the context of the individual’s development, including environmental factors, family history, and significant life events that may have had an impact on their development.

4. Parental and Caregiver Insights

• Subjective Observations: Parents, caregivers and close family can offer subjective observations and detailed anecdotes about the individual’s development, behaviour, and challenges, that are invaluable for a comprehensive assessment.
• Engaging Families: Collecting developmental history involves the wider family in the diagnostic process, fostering a collaborative approach to understanding and supporting the individual. 

5. Informing Diagnosis and Intervention

• Tailored Interventions: A detailed developmental history allows us to signpost to support services that meet the individual’s specific needs, strengths, and challenges.

6. Supporting Diagnostic Criteria

• DSM-5 and ICD-11 Requirements: Both the DSM-5 and ICD-11, the major diagnostic guidelines for autism, require evidence of symptoms present in early developmental periods. 
• Longitudinal Perspective: It provides a longitudinal perspective that is critical for understanding the chronic and pervasive nature of autism, characterised by persistent difficulties in social communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour.

We hope after reading this you will understand the importance of developmental history and why it’s a crucial part of the autism assessment and any future support plans. 

We are experts in offering gold standard private autism assessments for adults and children. With over 20 years experience, we are here to provide as much support for you and your family as we can. 

Further Reading: 

FAQ’s

10 Benefits of a Private Autism Assessment

My Journey with Autistic Children

*Both the DISCO and ADI-R are tools used in an autism assessment to gather information about the person’s medical and developmental history and their current presentation. They are both considered gold standard and NICE Compliant. Typically the professional carrying out the developmental history will be trained in the use of one or other of these tools, and this will determine which one they administer.