Getting an autism assessment for your child

If you think your child might be autistic, getting a diagnosis can help you to understand their needs and get extra support. The first step to a diagnosis is to ask for a referral for an autism assessment. If your child is able to understand, talk to them about what an autism assessment involves. You could ask them if they would like to have a diagnosis.

It can take time to get an autism assessment and diagnosis, but you can still support your child without a diagnosis.

To ask for an autism assessment referral, you can speak to:

• your GP
• your health visitor if your child is under 5
• the special education needs coordinator (SENCo) at your child’s school or nursery
• any other health professional your child sees

You will need to explain to them why you think your child might be autistic. It can help to make a list of the autistic traits and behaviours you have seen in your child. The National Autistic Society has a list of signs your child might be autistic.

You can ask someone to come with you when you talk to a professional. It’s helpful having another person take notes while you’re talking. That way, you have a record of what you discussed and agreed, plus any actions you decided together.

Some people choose to pay for a private assessment if they can’t wait for an NHS referral. The National Autistic Society has advice on getting a private assessment.

The professional you speak to can refer you to an autism diagnosis service for assessment. There are different services your child can be referred to. This depends on the process where you live, your child’s age and whether you have chosen a service with Right to Choose. You might be referred to:

• the child development centre at your local hospital
• CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
• a psychologist
• a neurological paediatrician

Right to Choose

If you live in England, you can ask for your child to be assessed by a particular clinic or service under Right to Choose. Your GP or health professional can give you information about providers. You might like to research services in your area to look for shorter waiting times. You could also ask other parents or your child’s SENCo for suggestions.

The National Autistic Society has information about asking for an assessment with Right to Choose.

Referral letter

When you have been referred you will usually get a letter from the assessment service to confirm that your child has been referred. They might also send you some forms to complete before your appointment.

You and your child will be invited to meet with an assessor. They will ask you about why you think your child is autistic, so it is a good idea to prepare examples of their:

• communication
• physical development
• behaviour

The assessor will want to see and hear how your child behaves and interacts with others. They might:

• set your child task or activities
• play games with them
• ask them questions
• give them a physical examination

They might also ask to visit your child at their school or childcare setting, so they can see the way they usually behave.

They will look at any reports that your child’s GP, health visitor, nursery or school have written.

They might ask you and your child to meet with a range of professionals before deciding about a diagnosis. These can include:

• a GP, paediatrician or health visitor
• a counsellor, psychotherapist or psychiatrist
• a SENCo
• a speech and language therapist
• a behaviour support specialist
• an educational psychologist
• an occupational therapist
• a dietician
• an outreach worker
• a social worker or care manager

It’s a good idea to ask at your child’s assessment when you can expect a decision. You can also ask who else your child needs to see before they make a diagnosis.

Once the assessor has all the information they need, they will be able to diagnose if your child is autistic. They might invite you to another appointment or send you a report confirming your child’s diagnosis.

If your child is autistic, the report might say something like your child “meets the criteria for autism spectrum diagnosis”. If so, it will explain the areas where your child needs extra help.

If your child is not diagnosed as autistic, the assessor might say that your child:

• doesn’t meet diagnostic criteria (this means they didn’t see enough autistic traits)
• can be assessed for autism again when they are older
• should be assessed for another condition or disability

If you disagree with the decision, you can ask the assessment team to explain their reasons to you. If you’re still not happy with the outcome you can go back to your GP or look into a private assessment.

Page last reviewed: May 2025
Next review due: May 2028