If you’ve noticed what could be signs of autism in your child, getting them booked in for an assessment has likely crossed your mind.
With lengthy NHS wait times, knowing the best route to take to get your child assessed for autism can feel tricky, but it doesn’t need to be. You can access NHS assessments in four steps or explore other diagnosis pathways, which may have shorter waiting lists.
In this blog, we’ll look at the signs it might be time to get an autism assessment for your child, a step-by-step guide for how to go about it and what happens during the actual assessment.
Signs It Might Be Time to Ask for an Autism Assessment
Knowing the signs of autism in children is a good first step to getting an assessment.
Signs of autism in children change as they grow. The earliest signs in babies and toddlers under 2 years can look like the following:
- Lack of eye contact, especially during play or feeding
- Limited response to their name or sounds
- Little interest in toys, surroundings or faces
- Distress at certain sounds, lights or textures
- Little to no babbling by 7–12 months
Between the ages of 2 and 5, signs of autism in children can include:
- Speech delay
- Using fewer words than before
- Difficulty engaging in group activities
- Selective eating habits
- Taking sayings literally
- Intense and specific interest in certain topics
- Limited pretend play
- Repetitive movements (stimming)
When autistic children reach school age, masking can become quite common, especially in girls. Masking is when a child hides or minimises their traits to try to fit in.
Autism is unique to every child, with traits and signs affecting them in different ways. You may notice all of these signs in your child, but you might also only notice one or two.
It’s important to remember these signs don’t automatically mean your child is autistic. Some, like a limited response to their name, can have other causes, such as hearing difficulties, which is why a professional assessment matters.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Your Child Assessed for Autism
Getting your child assessed for autism is more straightforward than you might expect. The process itself only takes four steps to get started:
- Write down what you’ve noticed
- Speak to the right professional
- Ask for a referral
- Wait to hear from the assessment service
We’ve broken down how it all works below, so you know exactly what to expect every step of the way.
Going private? You won’t need a referral. Skip ahead to ‘Your Options for a Child Autism Assessment’ below.
Step 1: Write Down What You’ve Noticed
One of the best ways to start getting your child an autism assessment is by keeping a note of all the signs you’ve noticed. You can do this in a journal or even just a notes app on your phone.
Jot down specific examples, including where you noticed them, as environments often play a big part in how autism traits manifest. It’s a good idea to include when the behaviour started, as well as how it’s impacting your child.
Step 2: Speak to the Right Professional
The next step is to get in touch with the right professional for your child’s age. For most, that’ll be your local GP, but for children under 5, speaking to your health visitor might be best.
Standard GP appointments are short, so ask for a double appointment and mention you want to discuss an autism assessment.
If your child is at school or nursery, speak to their SENCO (special educational needs coordinator) about any signs they may have noticed.
Step 3: Ask for a Referral
Once you’re at the appointment, you’ll need to discuss your concerns, share examples and discuss a referral to a specialist — this is where step one becomes useful.
Make sure you take the notes you’ve been keeping with you to the appointment, as they give the discussion structure and provide your GP with detailed evidence.
In some cases, a GP may decide not to offer a referral. If this happens, you can ask for a second opinion from a different GP or look into private assessments.
Step 4: Wait to Hear from the Assessment Service
Once your child is referred, the assessment service will get in touch with you. While you wait, see our tips on supporting your child below.
Your Options for a Child Autism Assessment
There are a few different options to explore when it comes to getting your child an autism assessment — NHS, Right to Choose or private. Each puts your child in the care of dedicated professionals, but you might find one pathway suits you better.
NHS
Getting an autism assessment for your child is free on the NHS, as long as you have a referral from your GP or health visitor.
NICE recommends that child autism assessments should start within three months of referral, but many families wait far longer. Wait times will vary by location, but the average wait in England (for all ages) was over 17 months as of June 2025.
Right to Choose
If you live in England, you can use the Right to Choose pathway, granting you access to a free assessment from an NHS-contracted provider. You’ll still need a referral from your GP for this route.
To get your child an autism assessment through this pathway, make sure to research the best providers and check they cover your child’s age range before you ask your GP to refer you to them. Keep in mind that wait times will vary by region and provider.
Private
To go private for a child autism assessment, you won’t need a GP referral, but you will need to fund the cost of the assessment yourself.
The trade-off is that waiting lists at private clinics are usually much shorter. At Neuroaffinity, we usually see your child within four weeks.
When searching for a private provider, check that clinicians are registered with the HCPC or GMC, and that the clinic is registered with the CQC.
Some private diagnoses aren’t accepted by local NHS or council services, so it’s worth checking before you book. Choosing a provider that follows NICE guidelines can help make sure your child’s diagnosis is recognised.
Worried about the costs? Some health insurance policies cover child autism assessments, so be sure to check yours if you have one.
What Happens During a Child Autism Assessment?
First, both you and your child’s school will be asked to fill out a pre-assessment questionnaire to provide a detailed background before the main interview.
Then, the clinician will speak with you about your child’s developmental history before observing your child through play. For children old enough to speak, the clinician will ask a few age-appropriate questions about communication, social interaction, interests and imagination.
The clinician may also observe your child at school to get a full picture of how they behave outside of their home environment.
A range of tools will be used during the assessment, such as ADOS-2, ADI-R and CARS-2, all designed to support a thorough and accurate diagnosis for your child.
How to Support Your Child While You Wait
Having a diagnosis provides answers, but it’s important to remember that your child doesn’t actually need one to access support.
Their school can provide SEN (special educational needs) support, coordinated by the SENCO, helping to make the day-to-day in school that bit easier. Plus, there are a few practical strategies you can try at home, too:
- Routines: Establishing a routine brings predictability to autistic children, helping to keep them calm. Once a routine is established, try not to change it too much, as it can disrupt their day.
- Visual timetables: You can use these to help your child keep track of their routine at home, including completing homework, brushing their teeth or eating meals.
- Speak clearly: Talking through instructions clearly, slowly and logically can help them understand what’s expected of them, for example, “First, we’ll put our shoes on. Then, we’ll leave the house and go to the park.”
It’s important to look after yourself, too. If you’re struggling, there are plenty of support groups for parents of autistic children, or you can try the National Autistic Society’s parent-to-parent helpline.
Get Your Child Assessed for Autism with NeuroAffinity
Here at Neuroaffinity, we’re proud to support parents and children with professional autism assessments.
With us, your child gets a compassionate, confidential assessment. Whatever the outcome, you’ll receive a full report with recommendations for support. If you’re ready to get answers, get in touch with us today.
You can reach us on 07768 565162 or email us at enquiries@neuroaffinity.co.uk. Alternatively, fill out our contact form, and we’ll get in touch with you.
