Introducing neurodiversity support

December 2022

Neurodiversity refers to the different ways a person’s brain functions, processes information or interacts with the world around them. It’s often used as an umbrella term to describe alternative thinking styles such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and specific learning differences like dyslexia.¹

These differences are as natural a variation within each of us as the color of their eyes. But the world around us has been designed with ‘neurotypical’ people in mind, which can make it difficult for neurodivergent people to thrive, both at home and at work.

Working with ProblemShared, a leading online mind-health provider, AXA Health has developed their brand-new Neurodiversity Assessment and Support service. When added to your medical scheme, this online service connects your employees and their eligible family members (seven years and older) to timely initial needs assessments and, where appropriate, assessment and expert early guidance for:

• autism
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• dyslexia 
• dysgraphia
• dyscalculia

Supporting your people’s strengths

With an increase in National Health Service (NHS) open referrals⁵and waiting times for an assessment often long and stressful⁶, many people aren’t getting the support they need to make the most of their strengths and better manage their challenges. Both at work and at home.

At work, neurodiverse talent can offer unique skills, including analytical thinking, complex problem solving, creativity, new perspectives, innovation and empathy. An assessment and diagnosis can give an employee the foundations they need to properly understand and manage their challenges, supporting them to reach their full potential. At home, a timely assessment can relieve stress and be the springboard to finding and accessing the right local support for a family member.

With 47% of employers planning to further support their neurodivergent employees within the next two years,³ it’s clear that businesses understand the need to better recognize, respect and support neurodiversity.

Expert support from neurodevelopmental specialists

By adding AXA Health’s Neurodiversity Assessment and Support service to your private healthcare scheme, you’ll connect your employees and their eligible family members (seven years and over) with online access to ProblemShared’s network of practitioners, which includes counsellors, nurses, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists. They’ll support individuals to understand, manage and plan ahead.

An initial 45-minute video consultation with an expert practitioner occurs to discuss and understand challenges, answer questions and map out a potential care plan. This and further assessments are managed over ProblemShared secure online platform. If your employee’s initial needs assessment suggests they could have more than one challenge, they’ll have an assessment for each. Feedback following the assessment is often provided the same day, with a comprehensive report sent out within four weeks. Where support is required outside of this service, they’ll be guided back to AXA Health for assistance.

Support beyond assessment

When it’s needed, early guidance and support may be recommended, including:

Group sessions for ADHD and autism

These sessions for newly diagnosed individuals and their families explore what it means to be neurodivergent. Practitioners will talk about the unique strengths that people with these challenges can have, and discuss strategies for overcoming possible challenges. 

Navigating educational support

Members, or their eligible family members, can be referred to ProblemShared’s education navigator service if they’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia.¹ The team will research their school and/or local authority to find out what support is available, then share recommendations.⁷

Medication review for ADHD

People with ADHD can benefit from medication, which is where the ProblemShared prescribing clinicians are at hand to help. They’ll work closely with your employee or their eligible family member to help them make an informed decision and find the best treatment plan. This is followed by review sessions to monitor their progress and amend dosage levels if necessary. Their NHS GP will be kept informed and, if a child aged seven or over is being cared for, their parent or guardian can be present at all appointments. This service covers medication reviews and support, but the employee will need to pay for any medication costs.

Questions you may have

How effective are online assessments of this type?

Recent scientific research¹⁰ has found digital mental-health and neurodevelopmental services to be faster, more convenient and more personalized than in-person appointments for young people (7+) and their families. Remote digital technology means more people have access to neurodevelopmental assessments and interventions than ever before.

Do moratorium rules and outpatient limits apply?

AXA Health’s Neurodiversity Assessment and Support service shall be administered alongside the rules of your scheme, where present those limits and rules shall apply. To aid you at renewal/set up, typical costs for the service are between £1,500 and £5,000 per person.

Does ProblemShared liaise with the employee’s general practitioner (GP)?

Yes. Your employee’s NHS GP will most likely have made the referral (which is needed to use the service), so after providing initial support, ProblemShared will work with them under a shared care arrangement for ongoing management and prescriptions.¹¹ Alternatively, they can self-pay via ProblemShared to receive ongoing medication reviews.

When can this cover be added to my scheme?

You’ll be able to add this service to your corporate healthcare scheme at renewal or, if you’re new to AXA Health, from the date you start subject to the agreed loading on the premium.

Can my employees have a face-to-face appointment instead?

AXA Health’s Neurodiversity Assessment and Support service is entirely online. An advantage of this is that it connects your teams and their eligible family members to the same experts, so everyone can receive the same high level of service, wherever they are in the UK.

If an employee or family member doesn’t want to follow their recommended pathway, can they see a specialist of their own choosing?

Your employees are free to seek specialist support independently, but this would not be covered by AXA Health’s Neurodiversity Assessment and Support service. This benefit only covers those described services offered by their selected provider.

Working with ProblemShared, AXA Health has become the first UK private healthcare provider to offer a benefit of this kind as a standard option to add to a corporate scheme (a loading will be applied). Simply ask for this benefit to be added to your renewal/new business quote from renewal.⁴

About ProblemShared

ProblemShared is a clinician-led, CQC-regulated online mind-health provider, working with a community of expert practitioners to deliver online neurodevelopmental assessments and  post-assessment care and support. ProblemShared is focused on digital innovation  to help improve diagnosis and support for neurodivergent people.