Getting an Autism Assessment in Wales

Adults, children and young people can all seek an autism assessment. People come to this point in different ways: some have wondered for years, some are prompted by a school, workplace or family member, and some begin looking after a relative is identified as autistic.

An assessment is a structured process in which qualified professionals gather information about a person's development, communication, sensory experiences and everyday life, and consider whether autism explains what that person experiences.

Autism Support Wales is an independent information and directory service. We do not carry out autism assessments and we do not provide diagnoses. Our role is to explain the routes available and to help you compare independent providers serving Wales.

People usually seek an assessment because of longstanding differences that have been part of their life for as long as they can remember, rather than because of a single recent event. Those differences might involve communication and social interaction, sensory experiences, a strong need for routine and predictability, or how demanding everyday life feels compared with the people around them.

Others begin looking into an assessment after a period of exhaustion or burnout, after difficulties at school or work, or simply because reading about autistic experiences felt unexpectedly familiar. Wanting to understand yourself, or your child, better is a perfectly good reason to explore an assessment.

The experiences described on this site are not a checklist and cannot tell you whether you or your child is autistic. Only a qualified assessment can consider the full picture. If you would like to read more about autistic experiences first, see our guide to understanding autism.

NHS referral pathways in Wales vary according to age, individual circumstances and the local health board. There is no single national process that applies in the same way everywhere, so it is worth finding out how things work in your area.

Adults may begin by speaking to their GP, or to another health professional already involved in their care, who can explain the local route and what information is likely to be needed.

Children and young people may be referred through health, education or other relevant local services, depending on the local pathway. Schools, health visitors and paediatric services can often advise families on where a referral usually starts locally.

We cannot tell you whether a referral will be accepted, whether you will be considered eligible, or how long you might wait — those decisions rest with the services involved. For general context on waiting, see our overview of autism assessment waiting times in Wales.

Some independent providers accept self-referrals, which means you can approach them directly without going through a GP. Providers differ considerably in who they assess and how they work, so it helps to compare a few before committing.

Things worth comparing:

• The ages assessed
• The qualifications and professional registrations of those involved
• The assessment approach
• Current waiting times
• Total cost and possible additional charges
• Online, face-to-face or combined appointments
• What the written report includes
• Feedback appointments
• Post-assessment support

The exact process varies according to the provider, the person's age and individual circumstances. Not every provider follows an identical process, and not every stage below will apply to every assessment. The list gives a general sense of what may be involved.

Assessments for adults usually consider current experiences alongside earlier life. Providers may therefore ask about childhood experiences, or request information from someone who knew you when you were younger, where that is available and appropriate.

Not everyone can do this. Some adults have no contact with family, have lost the people who knew them as children, or do not have school or health records. If that applies to you, it does not mean an assessment is out of reach — discuss it directly with the provider before booking, and ask how they handle assessments where developmental information is limited.

For more detail written specifically for adults, see our adult autism assessment guide for Wales.

Assessments for children and young people usually draw on information from several sources. Parents and carers are typically asked about development and daily life, and information may also be collected from schools and other professionals who know the child.

Things families may wish to check with a provider:

• The ages accepted by the provider
• How the child or young person will be involved
• Whether information from school is required
• Which professionals complete the assessment
• What feedback and support are included

If you are weighing up private options for a child, our private assessment guide covers what to compare, and the provider directory shows which providers assess children and young people.

Providers may offer face-to-face appointments, online appointments, or a combination of the two. An assessment described as online is often partly remote rather than entirely video-based, with questionnaires and background information completed at home and some elements handled differently.

Before booking, check which parts of the assessment are completed remotely, whether any clinic visits are required, and where those appointments would take place. Our guide to online and remote autism assessments explains this in more detail.

A short list of questions can make providers much easier to compare. It is reasonable to ask all of these before you pay anything.

The provider should discuss the outcome with you and explain how they reached it. A written report is normally provided, setting out what was assessed, the information considered and the conclusions drawn, often with recommendations.

Receiving or not receiving an autism diagnosis does not invalidate the difficulties or differences that led you to seek an assessment. Those experiences remain real either way, and a good provider will talk with you about what might help next.

For practical next steps, see our guide to support after an autism diagnosis.