Pre Diagnosis

Autism is a spectrum condition, it can affect people in different ways. Autistic people have difficulty communicating and interacting with other in social situations. They may also experience over or under sensitivity to sounds, colours, tastes, smells, touch and light.

The National Autistic Society estimates that 11 in every 1,000 people are on the autism spectrum.

It is common for people to go through life without an autism diagnosis, but feel as though they don’t fit in. You may read something about autism, or saw something on the TV, and you might be wondering if you are autistic.

Some people are happy to be self-diagnosed with autism. But the only way to know for sure is to have a formal diagnosis. You can find more information here.

You might think someone you know is autistic but undiagnosed. The National Autistic society has a guide about talking to someone who might be autistic. You can read it here.

You should contact your GP if you think you might be autistic. Your GP can then refer you for a formal assessment. If a child is of school age, you can discuss any concerns with the school.

You can find more information about getting a diagnosis for adults and children online. The National Autistic Society provides advice on getting a diagnosis on their website.

Next Diagnosis

Last updated: 12/09/2022