Adult and child routes to an assessment

Adults and children reach an ADHD or autism assessment by different routes, and the waiting list figures count them differently.

In crisis now: NHS 111 (option 2 for mental health) or 999.

Adults

  • Start with your GP. Some areas ask for a screening questionnaire first.
  • The referral goes to the local adult ADHD or autism service, or to a provider you choose under right to choose.
  • Some NHS areas have closed or capped adult ADHD referrals; the area page says which, with the date.

Children and young people

  • A GP, school SENCO, health visitor or school nurse can refer, depending on the area.
  • The referral usually goes to community paediatrics or child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), sometimes a joint neurodevelopmental pathway.
  • Right to choose applies to children too, through the GP referral.
  • School support does not need a diagnosis: ask the SENCO about a support plan now.

What the figures count

ADHD pages show children (0 to 17) and adults separately, from NHS England's management information. Autism pages undercount children, because most are assessed by services outside the dataset. Each page says so. See ADHD by area and autism by area.

Sources:

Last checked 20 October 2026. The documents linked are the authority. Not medical advice.