Autism assessments

How to get an autism assessment

Speak to a GP to find out how to get an autism assessment in your local area.

GPs can often refer children and adults to a local autism team for an autism assessment.

For children, your child’s school may need to make the referral. If your child is not school age a health visitor may need to make the referral.

You may also be referred for an autism assessment when you're getting help for another condition. For example, a mental health professional may notice signs of autism and recommend a referral.

If your referral is accepted it can take a few months or longer to get an assessment. A GP or education professional can tell you what support is available while you’re waiting (or if you cannot get a referral).

If you're finding it hard to get a referral for an assessment, you could ask to speak to someone else, like another GP. This is called getting a second opinion.

In England, you can choose which NHS service does the assessment and you may be able to find a clinic with shorter waiting times. This is called Right to Choose.

Autism assessments for children

Your child may have one or more appointments with a team of different professionals.

The assessment team may:

• ask you about your child's development, such as when they started talking
• ask about their medical history and do a physical examination
• ask your child to do tasks to show how they communicate, move, think and react
• see how your child plays and interacts with you
• look for signs of other conditions that are common in autistic people, such as ADHD or epilepsy
• read any reports sent by their GP, nursery or school
• speak to people who know your child well, such as family, friends, your GP or your child's teachers

A member of the team may also visit your child's school to see them in class and at break time.

If the assessment team think your child may have other health conditions that are common in autistic people, such as ADHD, they can refer them for additional tests.

Autism assessments for adults

You may have one or more appointments with a team of different healthcare professionals.

The assessment team may:

• ask you to fill in questionnaires about yourself
• ask questions about how you behave with other people, your early life and your life at home, work or college
• speak to someone who knew you as a child, to see if you had any signs of autism growing up
• speak to someone who knows you now, such as a family member, partner or carer
• read any reports from the GP about other health problems you may have
• ask you to provide other documents that may be helpful, such as school reports or assessments you’ve had at work

Results and next steps

After the assessment you'll be given a report saying what the team found.

The report should say:

• if you or your child are autistic
• what you or your child are good at
• what you or your child might need help with
• if they found any other conditions

If you or your child are diagnosed as autistic, you may be offered a follow-up appointment with the assessment team a few weeks or months later.

You may also be given a care plan or some information to support you or your child. This should include any support that parents, family or carers might need.