During an autism assessment, it is routine - and necessary - to ask for accounts of the person’s childhood - and of course it is usual for parents or caregivers to provide this; questions involve discussions on night sleeping, first words, eating preferences in childhood and more.

But what if a parent or caregiver isn't available for your assessment?

We recognise of course that often people present in later life, and this often can mean that they don’t have someone available that knew them in their childhood, because their parents have passed away, or they’re estranged from their family, or because they spent time in Care, as examples.

In these cases, Dr Caryl Marshall, Consultant Psychiatrist, reassures us that assesment is still possible without these sources of information, and talks through the other routes that might be taken to gain this insight of childhood.