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Private Autism Assessment · East Sussex · CQC-Registered

Private autism assessmentin Brighton.

Start with the free AQ-10 screening, then compare CQC-registered clinics serving East Sussex on price, format and the instruments they actually use.

Start your free autism screening →How it works

Free to start · CQC-registered clinics · No referral needed

  • GMC-reviewed content
  • CQC-registered clinics
  • UKAAN/CAAQAS quality standards
  • Free for patients
Brighton & NHS waits

Your local autism assessment options in Brighton

Brighton has an unusually visible autistic community, and adults here are more likely to seek assessment on their own initiative than to wait for a GP to suggest it. The NHS route does not reward that initiative: adult autism assessment is separately commissioned from ADHD and commonly involves waits of years. Private assessment matches the intent — though it is worth comparing which instruments a provider uses, because autism assessment varies more between providers than ADHD assessment does.

How it works

From free screening to a booked assessment

Four steps — the AI report is unique to ThinkBetter.

Take a free screening

A short, free screening built on clinically validated tools including the WHO-developed ASRS v1.1. It helps you understand whether a full assessment may be worthwhile.

≈ 5 minutes · free · no sign-up to start

Get a personalised AI report

A clear, plain-English report explaining what your responses may mean — yours to keep, share, or bring to an appointment.

Plain-English report · instant

Get matched to a CQC-registered clinic

We match you with a suitable CQC-registered clinic in East Sussex that works to recognised UK quality standards. You choose who, where and when.

Matched clinics · weeks, not years

Book your assessment directly

Book a private assessment with your matched clinic. You see clear, upfront pricing before you commit to anything.

Transparent pricing · you stay in control
What actually happens

Inside an autism assessment in Brighton

Clinics vary in what they include, and the difference is rarely obvious from a price. These are the stages a thorough assessment covers, and the instruments a CQC-registered clinic should be able to name when you ask.

  1. Screening

    AQ-10

    A short, validated self-report questionnaire. The AQ-10 was developed at the University of Cambridge Autism Research Centre and is the tool NICE recommends in UK primary care. Screening indicates whether a full assessment is likely to be worthwhile. It is self-completed and is not a diagnosis, a triage decision, or a clinical opinion.

  2. Pre-assessment history

    Clinics gather developmental history before the appointment — school reports, and where possible an account from a parent, partner or someone who knew you as a child. ADHD and autism are lifelong, so evidence that traits were present in childhood matters to the diagnostic criteria.

  3. Diagnostic assessment

    ADOS-2 · ADI-R

    The assessment itself, usually two to three hours and sometimes split across sessions. ADOS-2 is a structured observational assessment of social communication and interaction; ADI-R is a detailed developmental interview conducted with someone who knew you in early childhood. Adult autism assessment is typically led by a psychologist or psychiatrist, and thorough clinics use more than one source of evidence rather than a single interview.

  4. Report and outcome

    NICE CG142

    A written diagnostic report setting out what was assessed, the outcome against DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria, and recommendations. NICE guideline CG142 governs autism diagnosis in adults in the UK. The report is the document that carries weight afterwards — for workplace or university adjustments especially — so check it is included in the fee rather than charged as an extra.

  5. After a diagnosis

    Adjustments · support

    There is no medication for autism itself, so the pathway after diagnosis is different from ADHD. A diagnosis supports reasonable adjustments at work or in education under the Equality Act 2010, and can be used for Access to Work and disability services. Where medication is discussed it is for co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression or ADHD, not for autism. Post-diagnostic support through the NHS is limited in many areas, so ask a clinic what it offers after the report.

ThinkBetter is a marketplace, not a clinical service. The assessment is carried out by the independent clinic you choose, and any diagnosis is theirs to make.

Clinics for Brighton

Your assessment options from Brighton

No clinic on ThinkBetter has a consulting room in East Sussex yet — but 13 clinics assess remotely, so you can be assessed from Brighton without travelling and without a referral. Video assessment is standard practice for adult autism, not a lesser option.

Start your free autism screening →
Why ThinkBetter

Faster does not mean lower quality

Anyone can promise speed. Our difference is honest quality governance — the CQC-registered clinics we match you with also work to recognised UK quality standards, with multidisciplinary support and clinical supervision.

Dr Miriana Vrajitoriu

Content clinically reviewed by Dr Miriana Vrajitoriu

Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Founder & Medical Director

GMC 7211553

  • Named clinical reviewer. Our clinical content is reviewed by a Consultant Psychiatrist on the GMC Specialist Register — not anonymous.
  • MDT support and supervision. Matched clinics work to recognised UK quality standards (such as UKAAN/CAAQAS), with multidisciplinary input and clinical supervision.
  • NICE-compliant, GP-ready reports. Assessments produce a thorough, NICE-compliant report designed to be GP-ready. Whether a GP offers shared care is at their discretion — we never guarantee acceptance, and we would be wary of anyone who does.
Good questions

Private autism assessment in Brighton: FAQ

How much is a private autism assessment in Brighton?
Private adult autism assessments in the UK typically range from around £800 to £2,500, depending on the instruments used and whether a written report is included. Listed clinics show indicative pricing up front and confirm the exact fee before you book.
Do I need a GP referral to be assessed in Brighton?
No referral is needed to start. Take the free AQ-10 screening first; if a full assessment looks worthwhile you can compare CQC-registered clinics that assess privately without a GP referral.
What does an adult autism assessment involve?
A clinician takes a detailed developmental and life history, then uses structured instruments — commonly ADOS-2, ADI-R or a comparable interview — to assess social communication, sensory experience and patterns of behaviour. Where possible they also gather information from someone who knew you as a child.
Is the written report included in the price?
It varies by provider, and it matters more for autism than for ADHD: there is no medication, so the report is the outcome. It is the document that supports reasonable adjustments at work or in education under the Equality Act 2010. Always check whether the quoted fee includes it.
Other areas

Waiting times and NHS funding positions differ by area. These pages carry the local picture for each.

Private Autism Assessment (national) →What it costs →NHS Right to Choose →
What an autism assessment involves →How the AQ-10 screening works →What happens after a diagnosis →

Book a private autism assessment in Brighton

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Free to start · CQC-registered clinics · No referral needed