Common Questions about ADHD and Autism Assessments

Understanding ADHD and Autism Assessments: Your Questions Answered

At Atypically, we know that navigating the world of ADHD and Autism assessments can feel confusing for parents. From knowing when to seek a diagnosis to understanding what happens during the process, there’s a lot to take in. That’s why we’ve created this page — to answer the most common questions parents have about getting an ADHD or Autism assessment in the UK. Whether you’re just starting your journey or waiting for an appointment, we’re here to help you make sense of every step with clear, expert-informed guidance.

A Freedom of Information survey found 24 % of people waiting for an NHS ADHD assessment had been waiting between one and two years, and 10 % had been waiting between two and three years. For autism, statistics reveal more than 200,000 people in England waited for an assessment in 2024, with 89% of them waiting longer than the NICE-recommended 13 weeks.

However, for a Private Assessment instead, the waiting times are normally between 10 to 30 days. That is why a lot of parents are now deciding to go down this route to get an assessment much faster than they would on the NHS.

For an NHS ADHD or Autism assessment, the most common route is the get a referral from your GP. You can also speak to the school SENDCO for advice on this too.

With a private autism or ADHD assessment you can often self-refer, meaning that you can get help without having to go through your GP, which can save time when getting your assessment booked.

While waiting for you assessment, you should continue to work with your child's school to support as much as possible with the best possible interventions. You should also research the assessment processes so you fully understand what is going to happen throughout and after the assessment. We have a lot of resources which cover the information that you need.

This is a really important question. To fully understand the process and what happens during the appointments for an ADHD assessment click here and for information about what happens during Autism assessments click here.

The processes for both are similar but also very different. Those resources offer in depth information about both.

Yes — information about your childhood is an important part of an ADHD or Autism assessment. Understanding early development helps clinicians see when certain traits or behaviours first appeared, which is key for an accurate diagnosis. Ideally, details from early school years and feedback from parents, carers, or teachers (if available) are helpful. Don’t worry if you can’t remember everything — the assessor will guide you with specific questions to build a clear picture of your experiences over time.

An ADHD diagnosis focuses on attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity — how someone manages focus, organisation, and activity levels. An Autism diagnosis, on the other hand, looks at communication style, social interaction, sensory processing, and patterns of behaviour or interests. While they are separate conditions, it’s common for people to show traits of both. A combined assessment explores both areas together, helping clinicians understand where symptoms overlap and where they differ. This approach gives a more complete picture and ensures the right support and recommendations are provided.

We have a very helpful resource which explains the differences and cross overs between ADHD and Autism here.

If your child doesn’t meet the criteria for an ADHD or Autism diagnosis, it doesn’t mean their experiences or challenges aren’t real. The assessment will still provide valuable insights into how your child learns, behaves, and interacts with the world. The assessor will explain which traits were identified and may suggest other areas to explore or support options that can still make a difference. Many families find that even without a formal diagnosis, the recommendations help schools and parents better understand and respond to a child’s unique needs.

Yes — an ADHD or Autism diagnosis can often help your child access the right support at school. A formal diagnosis provides clarity about your child’s needs and helps teachers, SENCOs, and support staff put appropriate strategies in place. This might include classroom adjustments, extra time in exams, or tailored learning approaches. A diagnosis can also strengthen applications for additional help, such as an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). While support should always be based on need rather than diagnosis alone, having an official report makes it easier for schools to recognise and respond to those needs effectively.

Yes — after an ADHD or Autism diagnosis, you’ll receive a comprehensive written report that outlines the assessment findings, diagnostic conclusions, and recommendations for next steps. This report can be shared with your child’s school, GP, or other professionals to help put the right support in place. Most assessors also offer a follow-up appointment to discuss the results in detail, answer any questions, and guide you on what to do next. This may include advice on therapies, educational support, or practical strategies for home life. The goal is to ensure you feel informed, supported, and confident about the path forward.

Prices can vary depending on a few factors. The biggest one is whether you choose an online assessment or an in-person assessment. Online assessments tend to be cheaper but can not be as suitable for every child, specifically very young children or those who require an in-person, play-based observation, such as the ADOS-2. Our Assessment providers are all selected because of their high level of professionalism and also their cost-effectiveness for parents, so we will always try to find you the most cost effective option. For mor information about pricing click here.

Currently our ADHD Providers charge between £800-£1200 and our Autism Assessment providers charge between £1450-£2000.

In most cases, the NHS will recognise a private ADHD or Autism diagnosis as long as it has been carried out by a qualified clinician who follows NICE guidelines and uses recognised diagnostic tools, such as ADOS. Many GPs and schools will accept private reports for putting support in place or making referrals, although some NHS services may choose to review or verify the findings before continuing care. To avoid issues, it’s best to ensure your assessment provider is properly accredited and experienced in neurodevelopmental assessments. You can read more about this in this article.

At Atypically, all assessors we work with meet these standards, so your report is suitable for sharing with NHS professionals, schools, and local authorities.

Yes — if you receive an ADHD diagnosis through a qualified clinician, medication can often be prescribed as part of the follow-up process. However, not all assessors or clinics provide titration directly, as this requires a prescribing psychiatrist or specialist nurse. Many private providers offer a medication titration service, where dosage is carefully adjusted and monitored to find what works best for you or your child.

If your chosen clinic doesn’t offer prescribing, your diagnostic report can usually be shared with your GP or an NHS psychiatrist to discuss medication options. Some NHS practices will accept a shared care agreement after a private diagnosis that meets NICE standards. At Atypically, we can connect you with assessment providers who offer full diagnostic and titration pathways, ensuring continuity of care from diagnosis through to treatment.

Right to Choose is an NHS scheme that allows you to choose who provides your ADHD or Autism assessment, rather than waiting for your local NHS service. This means you can often access a private clinic for your assessment free of charge, as it’s still funded by the NHS.

To use Right to Choose, you’ll need to be registered with a GP in England and ask them to refer you to an approved provider that offers assessments under the scheme. You can mention the name of the clinic you’d like to use — and as long as they have an NHS contract and you meet the criteria, your GP must process the referral.

Due to the very heavy demand, Right to Choose assessments can be very hard to get and often involve long waiting times, regularly taking months, where a private assessment can normally be booked in within a matter of days or weeks.

At Atypically, we work with trusted assessment providers who provide private assessments. We do not currently offer Right to Choose Assessments. 

The assessment process for ADHD and Autism differs between adults and children mainly in focus, sources of information, and the way questions are asked.

For children, assessments often rely heavily on input from parents, teachers, and carers, alongside observations of the child’s behaviour in different settings. Clinicians look at developmental history, early childhood behaviour, and school performance to understand how symptoms have affected daily life. Assessments may include structured questionnaires, interviews, and sometimes direct observation or play-based evaluation.

For adults, the process places more emphasis on self-reporting, though input from partners, family members, or colleagues can be helpful. Adult assessments often explore long-term patterns of behaviour, educational and work history, and coping strategies over time. Clinicians may also examine how symptoms impact current life, including work, relationships, and daily routines.

While the underlying diagnostic criteria are the same, the difference lies in how information is gathered and interpreted. At Atypically, our main focus is on helping find assessments for children. However, many of assessors are experienced in working with both children and adults, so if you contact us we can try to help you find a suitable assessor for an adult diagnosis if needed.

Our Assessment Providers

All of our private assessment providers work to all applicable guidelines, for example, the NICE guidelines for assessments, and also to the same methodologies as the NHS.

We only work with fully accredited and professional assessors, so you don't have to worry about finding the best assessors as we do this for you.

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