Why an autism assessment can help
- It can give you and others a better understanding of your child as an individual – their needs, challenges, and strengths
- It can highlight positive attributes and unique qualities
- An assessment can help you work out what adjustments may be helpful at home, nursery or school
- Some families find that an autism diagnosis can help them join social groups or online communities. But you do not always need a diagnosis for this
Important to note
- Wait times for autism assessments vary and can be long
- An assessment or diagnosis won’t change who your child is – or their needs, challenges and strengths
- A child who struggles with everyday activities and / or learning should be given support at home and school, whether or not they have an autism diagnosis
- An autism diagnosis does not guarantee a child will get an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) or state benefits. These are assessed by needs, not diagnosis
- There is no treatment or medication for autism
- Autism is not something that needs to be fixed or cured. Autistic children do not need to learn to behave more neurotypically. They need to be understood and supported
How to ask for an autism assessment
If you think your child (aged 2–12) might be autistic:
- Talk to your GP. They will ask you and your child’s school or nursery for information. They will decide if your child should be referred to the Community Paediatric Service
- Talk to school or nursery – they can share information with your GP. Sometimes they may also ask an Educational Psychologist to help gather information for your GP
- If your child already sees a speech and language therapist (SALT), the SALT may be able to refer your child directly to the Community Paediatric Service
The Community Paediatric Service will screen the referral. If the information shows indicators for autism, your child will go on the wait list for an autism assessment with the Paediatric Autism Assessment Team (PAAT)
What happens during the assessment
If your child’s referral is accepted by the Community Paediatric Service:
- Your child will have an outpatient clinic appointment with a community paediatrician
- The paediatrician will take a detailed developmental history and check for any medical causes of developmental delay
- Sometimes genetic or blood tests are offered. Support for related issues such as sleep, anxiety, ADHD, learning disabilities, or sensory differences may also be discussed
- Your child will go on the wait list for an autism assessment with the PAAT team or with an Educational Psychologist
- A neurodevelopmental practitioner and/or an Educational Psychologist will assess your child. This team can include speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and nurses with autism expertise
- After these assessments, all the information is reviewed to decide whether your child is autistic. If the clinician needs more detail, they may use ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule)
- Clinicians use the DSM-5 criteria to decide if your child is autistic
What happens after diagnosis
- If your child is diagnosed as autistic, you will be sent access to a post-diagnostic virtual workshop
- You will be sign posted to resources on autism and to services in the community that may be able to support your child’s needs
What you can do to help the process
- Write down your concerns and bring them to any appointments
- Make a list of your child’s developmental history, such as when they first walked or talked
- Think about how your child experiences:
- Communication
- Social interaction
- Friendships
- Sensory differences
- Need for routine and predictability
Helpful Resources
Video: Watch this video about difficulties autistic children may face
Click here to view this video in Urdu/Hindi
Click to here to view this video in Punjabi
Click here to view this video in Gujarati
Click here to view this video in Bengali
These videos were created by the University of Leicester and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. They are hosted externally and may contain adverts.
National Autistic Society Advice Hub: Click this link to view the Advice Hub.
This hub has information for autistic adults, adults who think they might be autistic, and parents of autistic children. It includes articles and videos about diagnosis before, during, and after.
Summary
An autism assessment can help you and others understand your child’s unique strengths, needs, and differences. It involves gathering information from you, school, and health professionals, and while wait times can be long, the process can open doors to helpful support and adjustments. A diagnosis does not change who your child is, nor does it guarantee an EHCP or benefits—these depend on needs, not labels. Support should be provided at home and school for any child who struggles, regardless of diagnosis. Autism is not an illness and does not need to be fixed or cured; autistic children thrive when they are understood and supported, not when expected to behave more “typically.”
