Autism and ADHD support, advice, and news for families
Waiting for an autism or ADHD assessment can feel overwhelming; the process, the terminology, and the waiting times are rarely explained clearly.
Our blog is written by Paloma Health's clinical team to help families in England understand what to expect at every stage: getting an NHS GP referral, using your Right to Choose, preparing for assessment day, and supporting your child once you have an outcome report. Browse the topics below, or get in touch if you have a question we haven't answered yet.
Waiting Too Long for an ADHD or Autism Assessment? You Can Switch Provider
What Is AuDHD? Signs of Autism and ADHD Together in Children
What is AuDHD? Learn the signs of autism and ADHD together in children, why AuDHD isn't a formal diagnosis, and how a joint assessment works.
Signs of Autism in Children: Causes, Traits and Genetics
Learn the signs of autism in children, how autism traits in girls differ, whether autism is hereditary and what causes it. Expert guidance from Paloma Health.
Waiting Too Long for an ADHD or Autism Assessment? You Can Switch Provider
Learn how to switch NHS ADHD and autism assessment providers through Right to Choose. Get assessed faster without changing your GP. Access Paloma from any ICB region in England.
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Are Remote Autism Assessments as Good as In-Person?
Research shows remote autism assessments have the same diagnostic accuracy as in-person. Learn why they're equally rigorous and often less stressful for children.
ADHD Masking in Children: Why Your Child's School Says They're Fine (But You're Not So Sure)
Does your child mask ADHD at school but struggle at home? Learn why kids hide ADHD symptoms, why teachers might miss it, and what to look for.
How Is ADHD Diagnosed in Children? Step-by-Step Guide
How is ADHD diagnosed in children? A clear walkthrough of the assessment process, who carries it out, and what to expect at each stage.
What Causes ADHD in Children?
What causes ADHD in children? Explore the genetic and environmental factors research points to, and the common myths that aren't supported by evidence.
What Are the Physical Signs of ADHD in Children?
What is ADHD, and what are the physical signs of ADHD in children? A clear guide to the visible symptoms, plus what they don't tell you on their own.
What Is the SNAP-IV Questionnaire? A Guide for Families
What is the SNAP-IV questionnaire, how is it scored, and what does it mean for your child's ADHD assessment? A clear guide for families preparing for a GP referral.
The CAT-Q: Understanding the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire
What is the CAT-Q, who is it for, and what does a high masking score mean? A clear guide to the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire for families.
The AQ-10 Autism Screening Test: A Guide for Families
What is the AQ-10, who is it for, and what does your child's score actually mean? A clear, practical guide for families considering an autism assessment.
How to Ask Your GP for a Right to Choose Referral for ADHD & Autism
Learn exactly what to say to your GP to request a Right to Choose referral for your child's ADHD or autism assessment, plus what to do if they say no.
What Is AuDHD? Signs of Autism and ADHD Together in Children
What is AuDHD? Learn the signs of autism and ADHD together in children, why AuDHD isn't a formal diagnosis, and how a joint assessment works.
Signs of Autism in Children: Causes, Traits and Genetics
Learn the signs of autism in children, how autism traits in girls differ, whether autism is hereditary and what causes it. Expert guidance from Paloma Health.
Are Remote Autism Assessments as Good as In-Person?
Research shows remote autism assessments have the same diagnostic accuracy as in-person. Learn why they're equally rigorous and often less stressful for children.
The CAT-Q: Understanding the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire
What is the CAT-Q, who is it for, and what does a high masking score mean? A clear guide to the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire for families.
The AQ-10 Autism Screening Test: A Guide for Families
What is the AQ-10, who is it for, and what does your child's score actually mean? A clear, practical guide for families considering an autism assessment.
ADHD Masking in Children: Why Your Child's School Says They're Fine (But You're Not So Sure)
Does your child mask ADHD at school but struggle at home? Learn why kids hide ADHD symptoms, why teachers might miss it, and what to look for.
How Is ADHD Diagnosed in Children? Step-by-Step Guide
How is ADHD diagnosed in children? A clear walkthrough of the assessment process, who carries it out, and what to expect at each stage.
What Causes ADHD in Children?
What causes ADHD in children? Explore the genetic and environmental factors research points to, and the common myths that aren't supported by evidence.
What Are the Physical Signs of ADHD in Children?
What is ADHD, and what are the physical signs of ADHD in children? A clear guide to the visible symptoms, plus what they don't tell you on their own.
What Is the SNAP-IV Questionnaire? A Guide for Families
What is the SNAP-IV questionnaire, how is it scored, and what does it mean for your child's ADHD assessment? A clear guide for families preparing for a GP referral.
Waiting Too Long for an ADHD or Autism Assessment? You Can Switch Provider
Learn how to switch NHS ADHD and autism assessment providers through Right to Choose. Get assessed faster without changing your GP. Access Paloma from any ICB region in England.
How to Ask Your GP for a Right to Choose Referral for ADHD & Autism
Learn exactly what to say to your GP to request a Right to Choose referral for your child's ADHD or autism assessment, plus what to do if they say no.
What Is NHS Right to Choose? A GP's Guide to Referring for ADHD/Autism Assessments
A practical guide for GPs on how NHS Right to Choose works, how to refer children and young people for ADHD or autism assessments, and how Paloma Health supports the process.
Free online webinars
Upcoming webinars
What to expect
In this webinar you will learn about
- How NHS Right to Choose works and how you can access it.
- What happens in a child’s autism and ADHD assessment
- Your options for an assessment, including remote and in-person.
- Live Q&A session
In this webinar you will learn about
- How our team identify subtle traits and recognise instances of masking in both face-to-face and remote assessments
- How we use parent interviews and questionnaires to balance our direct observations
- What we do in cases of non-engagement
- How can selective mutism still be clinically valuable in an assessment process
In this webinar you will learn about
- Exploring what ADHD is and how we rule out other "differential" explanations in autism assessments
- Why it's important to understand how differnet conditions often show up together
In this webinar you will learn about
- Helping parents understand why meltdowns and overwhelm can occur.
- Identifying the early signs of dysregulation.
- Strategies for co-regulation in the home, school, and community environment.
- Practical recommendations to support your child’s emotional well-being.
