Wondering whether you might be ADHD or autistic, and not sure where to start? You’re far from alone. Demand for adult assessments has soared in recent years, and the system can feel like a maze. Here’s a guide to the main routes in England.
Step one: your GP
For an NHS assessment, the usual starting point is your GP. It helps to go prepared: write down examples of how your difficulties show up now and how they showed up in childhood, and how they affect your work, relationships and daily life. If you have old school reports, bring them.
What the guidance says
- ADHD: NICE guideline NG87 (2018, updated 2019) says that ADHD should only be diagnosed by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in diagnosing ADHD. Diagnosis should be based on a full clinical and psychosocial assessment, not a questionnaire alone.
- Autism: NICE guideline CG142 (2012, updated 2021) covers recognition, referral, diagnosis and support for autistic adults, and recommends that assessment should be carried out by professionals trained and competent in autism.
Right to Choose
In England, if your GP agrees that a referral for assessment is appropriate, you have a legal right to choose which provider assesses you, as long as that provider holds an NHS contract for the service. This is known as Right to Choose, and it can sometimes mean shorter waits. It applies in England only: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different systems.
Going private
Private assessments are faster but can be expensive. If you go private, check the clinician’s qualifications, and ask whether your GP will accept the diagnosis for prescribing under a “shared care” arrangement. Not all GPs will.
The bigger picture
In November 2025, an independent ADHD Taskforce reported to NHS England. It called for changes to how ADHD services are organised, including better training for GPs to recognise ADHD. It remains to be seen how quickly that translates into shorter waits.
A grain of glitter ✨
NICE guidance sets standards, but services vary a lot across the country, and waiting lists in some areas can stretch to years. Online self-tests can be a useful starting point for reflection, but they can’t diagnose you. And a diagnosis isn’t the only route to support: many adjustments, communities and therapies are open to you while you wait, or if you decide not to seek one.
While you wait
- Learn about the condition from reliable sources.
- Connect with neurodivergent communities.
- Ask your employer or college about adjustments (see “Support at Work”).
- Consider coaching or therapy for support now.
A unicorn doesn’t need a certificate to be a unicorn, but sometimes the paperwork opens doors.
Further reading
- NICE (2018, updated 2019). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (NG87)
- NICE (2012, updated 2021). Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management (CG142)
- NHS England (2025). Report of the independent ADHD Taskforce