With the average waiting time for a neurodevelopmental assessment being 69 weeks across Warwickshire, Purple House Clinic Rugby is helping to reduce this growing demand. In 2023, the Clinic saw an 11% rise in enquiries from both adults and children compared to the previous year, of which 90% led to a full neurodevelopmental assessment for either Autism or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
“Coventry and Warwickshire have some of the longest waiting lists in the country for neurodevelopmental assessments, so it’s vital for us to be able to provide a specialised assessment service to help tackle the overwhelming demand in the Warwickshire area and offer a viable alternative to using NHS services. With increased awareness of both mental health issues and neurodiversity, the requirement for our services has risen steeply – we have seen a continuous growth year on year since we launched in 2021, which emphasises how important our services are to the local community here in Rugby/Warwickshire,” said Dr Rachel Kemp, Clinical Director at Purple House Clinic Rugby.
Whilst awareness of neurodiversity is increasing, there is still a lack of understanding about the individual variances and the range of characteristics associated with different neurotypes, resulting in many children and adults not getting the help they need. Autism and ADHD present differently in different people and this can be influenced by varying factors, including life experiences. Unhelpful stereotypes mean that people who do not “appear” to be neurodivergent can miss out on timely diagnosis and support.
“With roughly 15% of the population currently believed to be neurodivergent, it is even more important to understand neurodiversity and help people get the support they need. All of our neurodevelopmental assessments are carried out in accordance with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline, and we only provide formal diagnosis after the completion of standardised psychometric assessments. We also look at social, familial and education circumstances, physical health and development, so we can provide a detailed and accurate diagnosis of specific neurotypes. This precision is crucial as it helps our assessment team understand a person’s unique challenges and strengths, and to identify strategies which will help them thrive in their everyday life.” added Rachel.
Purple House Clinic Rugby has an expert team of 18 associate clinicians working at the clinic helping adults and children receive the right neurodevelopmental assessments and support. The Clinic also offers mental health services to the local area and has particular expertise in adult mental health, child mental health, child behaviour, developmental trauma, physical health and psychosexual difficulties. The team comprises of Clinical Psychologists, Forensic Psychologists, Educational Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists.
If you have any queries about neurodevelopment assessments, please get in touch with your local Purple House Clinic and they will be happy to answer any questions you have and discuss your options.