You're one of a record number of UK families right now. Here's what's actually going on with waiting times — and what you can do while you wait.
If you've found yourself searching “autism assessment” or “ADHD assessment” recently — maybe more than once, maybe late at night — you're not the only one, and you're not overreacting. UK search interest in “autism assessment” has hit an all-time high in 2026, up 497% on the historical average since Google started tracking in 2004. That surge exists because a huge number of families are stuck exactly where you might be: certain something needs looking into, and unsure what to actually do about it while the wait drags on. This is about that second part — what you can do right now, not just what the statistics say.
Not sure whether to wait, go private, or start with an educational assessment while you decide? A free 15-minute call with Lauren is a calm, no-pressure way to talk through the options for your child.
Book a free 15-minute call with LaurenUK search interest in “autism assessment” hit an all-time high in 2026, six times the historical average since tracking began in 2004. Source: Autism Parenting Magazine analysis of Google Trends data, 2026.
Autism isn't the only search term on this trajectory. “ADHD assessment” searches have followed a similar path over recent years — a peer-reviewed study in BJPsych Bulletin found that ADHD assessment demand roughly tripled between July 2020 and January 2023, with Google searches for ADHD rising in close parallel, and autism referrals and searches seeing smaller, similarly timed rises. The pattern holding since is the same one showing up in the 2026 autism figures: rising public awareness, and a search bar that's often the first place a worried parent goes.
The number of people in England with an open referral for suspected autism as of June 2026 — up 15% on June 2025. Around nine in ten have waited longer than the 13-week NICE-recommended target, with average waits as high as three years in some areas. Source: National Autistic Society, using NHS data, June 2026.
Two things are compounding the pressure. ICB (Integrated Care Board) spending on private providers to carry out assessments has more than doubled in the last year, simply because NHS teams don't have the internal capacity to keep up. And in response, some areas have started restricting access to Right to Choose — the route that lets patients pick an approved independent provider instead of waiting on the local NHS list — turning it into what campaigners have called a postcode lottery. For children specifically, a typical Right to Choose wait for a combined ADHD and autism assessment currently runs 12 to 18 months; private routes are faster, typically 6 to 8 weeks, but come at real cost.
None of this pressure is going unnoticed in Westminster. Health Secretary Wes Streeting commissioned an independent review into rising demand for ADHD, autism and mental health services, led by Professor Peter Fonagy. Its interim findings, published earlier this year, were direct: rising diagnoses “do not appear to be explained by changes in population prevalence,” and services are under “significant and sustained pressure” that the committee described as “unlikely to be sustainable or fair.” The full review is expected to be published in September 2026 — weeks away — and is likely to shape funding, policy and NHS pathway decisions for years to come.
Whatever the full review concludes, it won't shorten anyone's current waiting list overnight. The question worth answering today isn't “when will this get easier nationally” — it's “what can I actually do for my own child right now.”
This is exactly the gap Education With Lauren sits in — for families who are waiting, and families who are ready to move faster.
A diagnosis explains what's happening. It was never supposed to be the only thing standing between a struggling child and the right support.
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I'm waiting for an autism or ADHD assessment — what can I do in the meantime?
You don't need a diagnosis to get evidence of your child's needs. An independent educational assessment can identify academic gaps and behavioural presentations now, supporting school conversations and EHCP applications while you wait for or consider a formal assessment.
How long is the current wait for an autism or ADHD assessment in the UK?
As of June 2026, around nine in ten people with an open referral for suspected autism had waited longer than the 13-week NICE-recommended target, with average waits as high as three years in some areas. A typical Right to Choose wait for a child ADHD and autism assessment currently runs 12 to 18 months; private assessments typically take 6 to 8 weeks.
Why has search interest in “autism assessment” hit an all-time high in 2026?
UK search interest in “autism assessment” rose 497% above the historical average since Google Trends tracking began in 2004, coinciding with record NHS waiting lists and rising public awareness of autism and ADHD.
When will the government's review into ADHD and autism services be published?
The full review, led by Professor Peter Fonagy and commissioned by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, is expected to be published in September 2026.
This article is general information, not medical or diagnostic advice. Waiting times and referral routes vary by area and change over time — check current guidance for your own ICB or local authority.
“A diagnosis was never supposed to be the only thing standing between a struggling child and the right support.”