The 2026 picture
For children, NHS autism diagnostic waits in 2026 typically run 18 months to 4+ years, depending on your local area and your child's age band. Some regions are doing better than this (Scotland and parts of the south-east often under 12 months for under-5s); others are running 4+ years for school-age children with no end in sight.
For adults, waits are similarly variable: 12 months to 3 years for an NHS-route assessment via mental health trusts. Right to Choose (see the sibling answer) is usually the fastest adult route.
The official target (and why it's missed)
NHS England's target is 13 weeks from referral to first appointment. National data (NHS Digital's autism statistics) shows the vast majority of areas miss this target by a wide margin. The combined demand for autism assessment has grown faster than diagnostic capacity since the 2010s, and the gap has widened post- pandemic.
The 13-week figure is what NHS staff and CCGs / ICBs are measured against; it's also what some referral letters will quote. It is not a realistic estimate of when your child will actually be assessed.
What changes the wait in your area
- Which ICB you're in. Commissioning decisions about pathway capacity vary widely. ICBs that have invested in multi-disciplinary autism teams move faster.
- Your child's age. Under-5s often have a shorter pathway (development-monitoring routes); school-age children are typically the slowest.
- Whether ADHD is also being assessed. Combined neurodevelopmental assessment is becoming more common but can lengthen the wait.
- Complexity flags. Children with co-occurring mental health needs may be triaged through CAMHS first, adding time.
What to do while you wait
The diagnosis itself doesn't unlock most of the support your child needs; the underlying needs do. While you wait:
- Get the school on SEN Support and document what's tried (SEND Code 6.36).
- Consider requesting an EHC needs assessment if support is needed beyond what the school can ordinarily provide. A diagnosis is not required.
- Apply for DLA based on care and mobility needs.
- If your child is 18 or older, Right to Choose typically shortcuts the local NHS wait (limited for under-18s).
- Consider a private assessment if the wait is materially affecting your child or your decisions (see the sibling answer on cost).
Where the law comes from
Related
This page is general information, not clinical or legal advice.