FAQs

South London Psychology Partnership, founded by Dr Caroline Gratton and Dr Kate Davis, offers autism assessments, adult ADHD assessments, and combined AuDHD assessments for those who may be both autistic and ADHD. Each is a distinct pathway — many people come to us for an autism assessment alone, and that is just as complete and valuable as a combined assessment.

Not at all. An autism assessment is a thorough and complete process in its own right. We do consider ADHD as part of our standard autism screening, and if it appears relevant we will mention this — but there is no obligation to pursue an ADHD assessment, and many of our clients don’t.

Dr Caroline Gratton and Dr Kate Davis both use the DISCO (Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders), a gold-standard tool developed at the Lorna Wing Centre and one of the most comprehensive autism assessment tools available. Both are licensed DISCO practitioners who have also worked as consultants to the Lorna Wing Centre since 2012.

For ADHD we use the DIVA-5 (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults), based on DSM-5 criteria. We offer standalone ADHD assessments to those who already have an autism diagnosis, and combined AuDHD assessments where both are being considered together.

For adults, an autism assessment with Dr Caroline Gratton or Dr Kate Davis typically takes three hours, or four hours where the presentation is more complex. For adolescents (age 12 and above), assessments typically take four and a half hours. Where possible, Dr Gratton and Dr Davis ideally include an informant as part of the assessment — someone who knows you well, such as a parent, family member, spouse, friend, or employer. If this isn’t possible, that’s absolutely fine too.

A combined AuDHD assessment typically takes around six hours in total. This includes a developmental history with an informant as well as direct assessment with you, plus screening questionnaires completed in advance.

Yes. Dr Caroline Gratton and Dr Kate Davis have particular expertise in assessing women, girls, and those who mask or camouflage their differences — a group that is frequently missed or misdiagnosed elsewhere. They are also very experienced in working with boys and men who mask, and with people who have complex co-occurring mental health difficulties, physical health difficulties, or both alongside their neurodivergent profile.

Yes. ADHD is often identified first, particularly in childhood, while autism goes unrecognised. We can offer an autism assessment where you have an existing ADHD diagnosis.

Yes. We can offer a standalone ADHD assessment for those who already have an autism diagnosis and suspect ADHD hasn’t been identified.

Yes. Our reports are detailed and clinically robust, and are accepted by GPs, employers, universities, and local authorities. We are HCPC-registered psychologists and our assessments meet the standards required for formal diagnosis.

Yes, and this is something Dr Caroline Gratton and Dr Kate Davis have considerable experience with. If a previous assessment felt incomplete, or a diagnosis doesn’t quite fit, they’re happy to discuss what a re-assessment or complementary assessment might look like for you.

AuDHD is a term widely used in the neurodivergent community to describe the experience of being both autistic and ADHD. It isn’t a formal clinical diagnosis in itself, but it describes something very real: the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD, which is clinically recognised and increasingly well-understood. Research suggests that between 50 and 70 percent of autistic people also meet the criteria for ADHD. Many people find the term AuDHD more accurately captures their lived experience than either diagnosis alone, and at SLPP we’re comfortable using the language that resonates with you.

When autism and ADHD coexist, they interact rather than simply adding together, and this can create genuinely paradoxical experiences. The autistic drive for routine can pull against the ADHD drive for novelty. A person may have very clear ideas about how things should be done alongside a genuine inability to consistently do them that way. Sensory sensitivities from both conditions can compound each other, and poor interoception — common in autism — can be further destabilised by the ADHD tendency to push through limits. Masking both conditions simultaneously is also considerably more exhausting than masking either alone.

Autistic traits like rigidity can appear to offset ADHD traits like impulsivity — and vice versa — making both harder to identify in isolation. Masking is also a significant factor: many AuDHD people have spent years suppressing their differences, making their presentation appear confusing or inconsistent to clinicians who aren’t experienced with co-occurring profiles. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by late diagnosis, but Dr Caroline Gratton and Dr Kate Davis increasingly see boys and men who have masked just as effectively and for just as long.

Assessing autism and ADHD in isolation can lead to an incomplete picture. The two conditions interact in ways that a clinician assessing only one condition at a time may not recognise. Dr Caroline Gratton and Dr Kate Davis are highly experienced in assessing these complex, overlapping profiles and understanding how each shapes and is shaped by the other.

Yes — and this is clinically significant. When AuDHD is not identified, the mental health difficulties that arise from it cannot be properly formulated or treated. In some cases, treatment that does not account for the underlying neurodivergent profile can actively make things worse. A 2024 study in The Lancet eClinicalMedicine found that one in four autistic adults, and one in three autistic women, reported at least one prior psychiatric diagnosis they perceived as a misdiagnosis, with inaccurate diagnoses linked to significantly delayed recognition of autism (Griffiths et al., 2024).

A combined AuDHD assessment with Dr Caroline Gratton or Dr Kate Davis typically takes around six hours in total. This includes a developmental history with an informant (usually a parent or partner, where possible), direct assessment with you, and screening questionnaires completed in advance. The assessment uses the DISCO for autism and the DIVA-5 for ADHD.

As with all assessments at SLPP, your report is provided in draft form first so you can contribute to it before the final version is issued. It includes personalised recommendations reflecting both your autistic and ADHD profiles. Dr Gratton and Dr Davis also offer post-diagnostic therapy and mentoring for those who want continued support — for many people, an AuDHD diagnosis is not the end of the process, but the start of the rest of their lives.

Your report is initially provided in draft form, giving you the opportunity to flag any errors before the final version is issued. The report includes a personalised set of recommendations to help you understand your profile and make meaningful changes in your life.

No. Your report belongs to you, and we don’t share it with anyone without your explicit consent. If you’d like us to liaise with other professionals involved in your care, we’re happy to do so.

We offer post-diagnostic therapy and specialist mentoring for those who want continued support. Many people find it valuable to have space to process their diagnosis and understand what it means for their identity, relationships, and day-to-day life.

Yes. Our specialist mentor can support with PIP applications, employment support plans, liaison with employers and universities, health passports, and practical day-to-day support following diagnosis.

Dr Caroline Gratton and Dr Kate Davis offer neuro-affirmative therapy for autistic adolescents and adults, working with individuals, couples, and families. Their approach is integrative, drawing on psychodynamic, cognitive, and systemic models. Both Dr Gratton and Dr Davis are also trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Not necessarily. We are happy to discuss your situation and whether therapy with us would be a good fit, regardless of where you received your diagnosis.

Our specialist mentor works with neurodivergent individuals and their families to provide practical, personalised support. This can include help with benefits, employment, education, social support, and implementing systems at home — tailored to your specific needs.

Yes. We offer consultancy, therapy, and mentoring for families, and welcome partners or family members as part of the assessment process if this would be helpful to you.