Autism assessment in Aberdeen

Aberdeenshire's adult assessment pathway closed in March 2025 — what that means for autistic adults and children seeking a diagnosis in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, and Moray

Reviewed by ADHD Scot,

Adult autism assessment in Grampian has been cut back

Aberdeenshire's adult autism and ADHD assessment pathways closed on 31 March 2025, after the non-recurring Scottish Government funding that paid for them ended and Aberdeenshire's Integration Joint Board agreed in February 2025 that the pathways would end. The Adult Autism Assessment Team continues to serve Aberdeen City and Moray, so whether an adult can access an NHS autism assessment depends on which of the board's three Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) areas they live in: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, or Moray each run their services differently.

NHS Grampian's July 2026 response to our Freedom of Information request (FOI/2026/531) set out the position. The adult autism median wait is 130 weeks — around two and a half years — with 1,838 adults waiting, a figure that combines Aberdeen City and Moray. Aberdeenshire HSCP confirmed it holds no waiting list and no pathway for adult autism assessment at all: adults registered with GPs in Aberdeenshire are not currently being seen on an NHS route.

Children and young people

Children's services run board-wide through CAMHS and Community Child Health, and neither can separate autism from ADHD in its waiting data. As at 30 June 2026, 682 children were waiting for a first CAMHS triage appointment — an initial meeting to discuss needs and next steps, not an assessment — with all children seen for triage within 18 weeks. Community Child Health had 2,220 children on its new patient list across autism, ADHD, and other conditions combined, with estimated waits of 49 weeks for urgent referrals and 70 weeks for routine ones.

The full FOI response is published on the NHS Grampian page, and board-by-board figures are on our NHS waiting times page.

Talking to your GP

Your GP remains the starting point, even where local provision is limited. It helps to:

  • Ask directly whether adult autism assessment is currently available through NHS Grampian in your HSCP area — provision has varied by area since February 2025
  • Be specific about your traits and give examples from everyday life rather than general statements
  • Mention that traits have been present since childhood, even if they were not recognised at the time
  • Bring collateral history if you have it: school reports, letters from parents or teachers, or a written account from someone who knew you as a child
  • Complete a validated screener beforehand — our autism screener gives you something concrete to bring along

If you live in Aberdeenshire, your GP may be able to refer you to a service in Aberdeen City or discuss alternative routes; ask for the position to be recorded in your notes either way. If your GP is reluctant, you are entitled to ask why and to seek a second opinion from another GP within the same practice. Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) provides free, independent advice on your NHS rights in Scotland.

Private autism assessment

With no NHS pathway at all in Aberdeenshire and long waits elsewhere in Grampian, private assessment has become the main realistic route to an adult autism diagnosis for many people in Grampian. A small number of providers work locally, and online providers serve the whole of Scotland. Private autism assessment typically costs more than private ADHD assessment, reflecting the greater time involved: based on what providers generally charge as of 2026, expect to pay from around £800 upwards for a single-clinician adult assessment, and considerably more for multi-disciplinary assessments. Always ask for a written breakdown of what the fee covers. See our private autism assessment guide for more detail.

Key things to consider when choosing a private provider:

Regulation: Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is Scotland's regulator for private healthcare, but the position for autism assessments is different from ADHD. A large proportion of private autism assessments are led by clinical psychologists, and HIS has confirmed that psychology-led services with no medical doctor, nurse, or other specified professional involved are not legally required to register with HIS. The absence of HIS registration is therefore common and is not, on its own, a red flag for an autism assessment provider. What matters is checking the individual clinician's registration with their professional body: psychologists should be on the HCPC Register; doctors on the GMC Medical Register. Our autism regulation page explains this in full.

Assessment method: A thorough autism assessment is not a questionnaire. According to SIGN 145, Scotland's clinical guideline for autism, it should include a detailed clinical interview, a validated diagnostic tool such as the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) or ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised), collateral history from someone who knew you in childhood, and a written diagnostic report. Our compare tool shows which providers use validated tools.

Multi-disciplinary assessments: For children in particular, a multi-disciplinary team involving a psychiatrist, psychologist, and sometimes a speech and language therapist is standard. For adults, a single experienced clinician may be sufficient; ask about the provider's approach before booking.

Find private providers near Aberdeen →

After a diagnosis

Unlike ADHD, there is no medication pathway or shared care arrangement following an autism diagnosis. The focus shifts to understanding your diagnosis, accessing support, and making practical adjustments.

Your written diagnostic report is one of the most practically important things to come out of your assessment. You will need it for workplace reasonable adjustments, university support arrangements, and Adult Disability Payment (ADP) applications. Keep digital and physical copies.

In Aberdeen, Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership coordinates adult social care, and national organisations including Scottish Autism provide support services and information for autistic people across Scotland. NHS follow-up after a diagnosis varies within Grampian — ask your GP or the diagnosing service what post-diagnostic support is available, including referral to occupational therapy or post-diagnostic support groups.

Our after an autism diagnosis page has more guidance on next steps, including rights at work, ADP, and social care.

Useful links

ADHD Scot is an independent, non-clinical information project. Nothing here is medical advice. If you think you may be autistic, the right first step is a conversation with your GP.