Two-Year NHS Waiting Times for Autism and ADHD Assessments: What Are Your Options?

Recent reports that some NHS services in England are introducing minimum waiting times of up to two years for autism and ADHD assessments will understandably be worrying for many individuals and families.

The Guardian reported this week that four Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have introduced minimum waits because of the increasing demand for neurodevelopmental assessments and the cost of meeting that demand. Across England, around 960,000 people are currently waiting for an ADHD assessment, alongside approximately 295,000 waiting for an autism assessment.

For someone who has already spent months—or sometimes years—wondering whether they or their child might be autistic or have ADHD, being told that an assessment is still several years away can feel particularly difficult.

Why can waiting for an assessment matter?

There are good reasons why someone might decide that they are comfortable remaining on an NHS waiting list. A diagnosis is not something that needs to be rushed, and support should always be based on an individual's needs rather than dependent solely on having a diagnostic label.

However, for some people, waiting several years can have a significant impact.

A child might be struggling to understand why school feels harder for them than for their peers. Parents may be trying to work out what support or adjustments would be helpful. An adult might have spent many years experiencing differences with attention, relationships, sensory processing or managing everyday demands without understanding why.

Assessment can help answer these questions. Importantly, a good neurodevelopmental assessment should do more than simply determine whether someone meets diagnostic criteria. It should help build an understanding of their individual strengths, differences and support needs.

Do you have to wait for an NHS assessment?

Not necessarily.

Some people will choose to remain on an NHS pathway, while others may explore NHS-funded alternatives where these are available. Families and adults who are in a position to self-fund can also choose to have an independent assessment.

If considering a private assessment, however, it is important to look carefully at how the assessment is carried out rather than simply choosing the quickest appointment available.

A thorough autism or ADHD assessment should gather information from different sources, consider an individual's developmental history and explore alternative explanations for their experiences. Autism assessments for children and young people should involve appropriately qualified professionals and a multidisciplinary approach in keeping with NICE guidance.

This is particularly important as concerns have also been raised nationally about variation in the quality of private neurodevelopmental assessments. A shorter waiting time should not mean a less thorough assessment.

Private autism and ADHD assessments in Hertfordshire

At Seafield Psychology, we provide private autism and ADHD assessments for children, young people and adults from our clinic in Hertford.

Our assessments are led by experienced clinical psychologists and are designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the person, rather than simply determining whether a diagnostic threshold has been reached.

For children and young people, this includes gathering detailed developmental information, obtaining information from school where appropriate, direct assessment and multidisciplinary consideration of the findings. We also consider whether another neurodevelopmental, emotional or developmental explanation might better account for the person's experiences.

Adult assessments similarly consider developmental history alongside current experiences and functioning.

For people who decide that waiting several years for an NHS appointment is not right for them, private assessment can provide another route to gaining that understanding sooner.

👉 You can explore our autism and ADHD assessment pathways here:
Child Autism
Child ADHD

👉 Or contact us to discuss whether an assessment might be appropriate:
Contact

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a private autism or ADHD assessment instead of waiting for the NHS?

Yes. You can choose to pay for an independent assessment rather than waiting for an NHS appointment. Before proceeding, it is important to check that the provider uses appropriately qualified clinicians and carries out a comprehensive assessment consistent with relevant clinical guidance.

Will a private autism or ADHD diagnosis be recognised?

There is no separate diagnostic standard for a “private” diagnosis. The important considerations are the qualifications and expertise of the clinicians involved and the quality and comprehensiveness of the assessment. Individual NHS services, schools, universities or other organisations may have their own processes for reviewing independent reports.

How quickly can I arrange a private assessment?

Waiting times vary between providers and according to the type of assessment required. At Seafield Psychology, you can contact us to discuss current availability before deciding whether you would like to proceed.