Proudly providing NHS services

Joint ADHD and Autism Assessments for Children

One Referral. Both Conditions.

One wait. One school information process. One report.

ADHD and autism traits often sit side by side, and looking at one in isolation makes it easy to miss the other. When your child is referred to us for both conditions, you go through one referral conversation with your GP, join one waiting list, give school information once, and receive one report covering both assessments.

As an NHS-commissioned service, any NHS GP in England can refer your child to us. Speak with your NHS GP today about requesting a referral to Paloma Health.

Is this right for us? ↓Assessment Pathways ↓Talking to your GP →

Who is this for

Who is this for?

This page is for families who recognise their child in both ADHD and autism, and who would like both conditions looked at rather than choosing one and coming back for the other.

Children aged 8 to 18

We assess children for both conditions from their 8th birthday up to their 18th birthday. Autism-only assessments are available from your child's 2nd birthday.

Registered with an NHS GP in England

Paloma Health is only available in England, and only NHS GPs in England can refer into our service. There is no cost to your family.

Traits that could point to either condition

If you are unsure which explains what you are seeing at home and at school, that is a good reason to ask about both. See what to look out for ↓

If your child has a diagnosed or suspected learning disability, speech and language condition or selective mutism, they will need to be seen at our Exeter or Norwich clinic rather than assessed remotely.

One Referral. Both Conditions.

What a joint referral means for your family

Each condition is assessed in its own right, against NICE and NHS guidelines, by qualified assessors. What changes is how much your family has to repeat.

Referral

You have one conversation with your NHS GP. They complete a referral for each condition at the same appointment, so nothing waits on a second visit.

Wait

Your child joins one waiting list rather than queuing twice. You can see the current wait for each pathway below.

School information process

We ask your child's school for information once, and use it for both assessments. Teachers are not asked to fill in the same picture twice.

Report

You receive one outcome report covering both assessments, so school, your GP and other NHS services work from a single account of your child.

Why we look at both

Difficulty focusing, sensory sensitivity and trouble with change can point to either condition, or to both. If your child is only referred for one, the other can go unrecognised for years. Referring for both means each is considered properly, and you get a full picture rather than half an answer.

Talking to your GP

How to start your child's assessment journey

If you would like your child referred for both conditions, we kindly ask your GP to provide relevant context for each condition in their referral. We're happy to support your GP with any questions they may have.

Complete a screening questionnaire

Book an appointment with your NHS GP

Prepare for your NHS GP appointment

Direct your GP to the Paloma Health website

What happens after your GP refers

Stage 1

NHS GP referral

Your NHS GP refers your child to us for both conditions. They can do this in the same appointment using our online referral form.

Joint referrals are available on our Remote and Hybrid Exeter or Norwich pathways.

Stage 2

The assessments

Our ADHD and autism assessments each follow NICE and NHS guidelines and are carried out by qualified assessors. Information you and your child's school give us is gathered once and used for both.

Parent and school questionnairesParent interviewA child observation

Stage 3

The outcome

You will receive one clear, easy-to-understand outcome report covering both assessments, including a diagnosis where appropriate. As an NHS provider, we securely share it with you and your GP.

If your child needs medication for ADHD, they will move into our ADHD prescribing pathway for further assessment and treatment if appropriate.

Assessment pathway options

Which pathway is right for your child?

Joint ADHD and autism referrals are available on two pathways, for children aged 8 to 18. Compare the options below and ask your GP for the one that fits.

Remote pathway

For children aged 8 to 18

Your child is assessed from home, with no travel needed. Appointments are held online at times arranged with you.

Ask your GP for a referral to the "Remote Pathway" for both ADHD and autism.

Check Our Current Wait →

Hybrid Exeter Or norwich pathway

For children aged 8 to 18

Your child's observation appointment takes place in person at our Exeter or Norwich clinic. The remaining appointments are held online.

Ask your GP for a referral to the "Hybrid Exeter / Norwich Pathway" for both ADHD and autism.

Check Our Current Wait →

Pathway questionnaire

Complete this short form to download your free GP referral pack

We have created a comprehensive referral document. This step-by-step guide is designed to make your preparation as smooth as possible and gives you clear, actionable advice on what to do if your GP refuses to make a referral. We have also provided a downloadable letter template that you can customise and send directly to your GP practice to request your child's assessment referral under the NHS Right to Choose pathway to Paloma Health.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

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Meet the team

Led by Clinical Experts

You may have been waiting a long time for an assessment, and it's normal if you feel nervous about this important moment. Our assessors are experienced clinical psychologists, social workers and speech and language therapists. Scroll to meet them.

About us →

Maria

Senior Assessor

Nichola

Senior Assessor

Shona

Senior Assessor

Dr Rachel Sarr

Specialist Assessor

Dr Hannah Brown

Specialist Assessor

Dr Shweta Sardesai

Specialist Prescriber

Accredited and regulated

Trustpilot reviews

Expertise you can trust, care you can feel

Choosing the right provider brings peace of mind. With a 4.9/5 rating on both Google and Trustpilot, Paloma Health is proud to be one of the highest-rated NHS Right to Choose autism services in the country, dedicated to providing a warm and thorough experience for every family.

Excellent — 4.9/5

Gillian

The team were all really helpful and it was great to be seen so much sooner than our local service. Thank you for all your help!

Date of experience: 21 March 2025

Chelsee

Mark and the team are fantastic! Having a child with Autism is a challenge in itself let alone the waiting time to get an assessment done. Our son is now being seen within 6 months instead of 2 years. All our questions have been answered in a timely manner and emails with educational material has helped us loads.

Date of experience: 05 March 2025

Holly

Fantastic experience from start to finish, kind and knowledgeable staff, who always put my mind at rest, great with the children during their assessments too.

Date of experience: 29 July 2025

Zoe

Paloma Health provided a thorough autism assessment for my son. The process from referral through to diagnosis took just shy of six months. The assessment its self was very good and the assessor was extremely patient with my child. The report provided was in great detail and provided signposting and further support recommendations.
‍
Very happy and extremely satisfied with Paloma Health.

Date of experience: 3 September 2025

What to look out for

What is autism, and what is ADHD?

Both are lifelong differences in how the brain works. Neither is caused by parenting, and neither is something a child grows out of. What follows is a plain description of what each can look like in childhood.

Autism

Autism affects how a child experiences the world around them, and how they communicate and relate to other people. Traits are present from early childhood, though they are often noticed later, particularly in children who mask well at school.

What parents often notice

Finding conversation, eye contact or friendships effortfulStrong preference for routine, and real distress when it changesDeep, focused interestsSensitivity to noise, light, textures, clothing or foodTaking language literally, or missing unspoken social rulesHolding it together at school, then struggling at home

ADHD

ADHD affects attention, activity levels and impulse control. It is not only the visibly restless child. Many children, particularly girls, present as inattentive and quietly overwhelmed rather than disruptive.

What parents often notice

Losing focus quickly, unless the task is genuinely interestingForgetting instructions, homework, kit and belongingsRestlessness, fidgeting or a constant need to moveActing or speaking before thinking it throughBig emotional reactions that pass quicklyStarting many things and finishing few of them

Where they overlap

Some traits belong to both, and can be read either way depending on who is looking. This is why families are often told to pick one condition, then find themselves back at the start.

Traits that can point either way

Difficulty focusingSensory sensitivityTrouble with change and transitionsDifficulty with friendshipsSleep problemsAnxiety and low self-esteem

If this sounds like your child, ask your GP about a referral for both conditions.

This is general information to help you decide whether to speak to your GP. It is not a diagnosis, and no list of traits can replace an assessment by a qualified clinician.

Help centre

Autism and ADHD assessment FAQs

Who can refer my child?

Any NHS GP in England can refer your child to us under NHS Right to Choose. We are only able to accept referrals from NHS GPs in England, and we cannot accept referrals directly from families or schools.

Do we need two separate referrals?

Your GP completes a referral for each condition, and can do both at the same appointment. For your family it is one conversation and one set of paperwork to chase. We kindly ask your GP to include relevant context for each condition.

What ages do you assess?

We assess for both ADHD and autism from your child's 8th birthday up to their 18th birthday. Autism-only assessments are available from your child's 2nd birthday.

Is there any cost to my family?

No. As an official NHS Right to Choose provider, our assessments come at no cost to your family.

Will my child's school be involved?

Yes. We ask school for information about how your child is at school, and we ask once. The same information is used for both assessments, so teachers are not asked to repeat it.

Can my child be assessed from home?

On our Remote pathway, yes. If your child has a diagnosed or suspected learning disability, speech and language condition or selective mutism, they will need to be seen at our Exeter or Norwich clinic on the Hybrid pathway.

What happens if a diagnosis is not given?

You still receive a full outcome report. It explains what we found, what it means, and what support we recommend, whether or not a diagnosis is given for either condition.

What if my child needs ADHD medication?

If medication may help, your child moves into our ADHD prescribing pathway for further assessment and treatment if appropriate. This is led by specialist prescribers.

Will the report be accepted by our school?

Yes. Our reports are recognised and accepted by schools, local authorities and other NHS services, and we share the report securely with you and your GP.

Joint ADHD and Autism Assessments for Children

Who is this for?

Children aged 8 to 18

Registered with an NHS GP in England

Traits that could point to either condition

What a joint referral means for your family

Referral

Wait

School information process

Report

Why we look at both

How to start your child's assessment journey

Complete a screening questionnaire

Book an appointment with your NHS GP

Prepare for your NHS GP appointment

Direct your GP to the Paloma Health website

What happens after your GP refers

NHS GP referral

The assessments

The outcome

Which pathway is right for your child?

For children aged 8 to 18

For children aged 8 to 18

Complete this short form to download your free GP referral pack

Led by Clinical Experts

Expertise you can trust, care you can feel

What is autism, and what is ADHD?

Autism

ADHD

Where they overlap

Autism and ADHD assessment FAQs

Avoid the long wait for an NHS ADHD or autism assessment