Why Lumara exists
OCD and autism can look remarkably similar from the outside. Both involve repetitive behaviours. Both involve distress when routines are disrupted. Both can involve a need for things to feel exactly right. And in many children, both conditions are present at the same time.
But the underlying reasons are different, and so is the right support. A child whose rigidity comes from an anxiety-driven OCD compulsion needs different help than a child whose routines provide sensory regulation and predictability. Getting this distinction right is not always straightforward — but it matters enormously.
Lumara was developed by a child and adolescent psychiatrist working in CAMHS, who saw firsthand how often families arrived at assessment having spent months — sometimes years — without clear guidance. The screening tool and the guides on this site are designed to give parents a clearer picture of what they might be seeing, and a more confident starting point for seeking the right help.
What Lumara is — and isn’t
Lumara Screen is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. It cannot tell you whether your child has OCD or autism. What it can do is give you an evidence-informed summary of the features present in your child’s behaviour, a personalised interpretation of what those features might suggest, and clear signposting to the services and professionals who can take things further.
The guides on this site are written with clinical accuracy but in plain language — for parents who want to understand, not to diagnose.
Lumara is not a clinical service. Content on this site does not constitute medical advice and should not replace professional assessment. If you have urgent concerns about your child’s mental health or safety, please contact your GP or, in an emergency, your local emergency services.