Getting a diagnosis
Children
See your GP or health visitor if your child is showing symptoms of autism or you’re worried about their development.
If appropriate your GP can refer you to a healthcare professional or team who specialise in diagnosing autism, or someone who has access to such a team.
Adults
Some people with autism grow up without their condition being recognised but it’s never too late to get a diagnosis.
There are several advantages to getting a diagnosis. It helps people with the condition and their families understand autism and decide what sort of support they need. A diagnosis may also make it easier to access autism-specific services and claim benefits.
See your GP if you think you may have autism and ask them to refer you to a psychiatrist, or clinical psychologist.
If you’re already seeing a specialist for other reasons you may want to ask them for a referral instead.