Autism diagnosis in Wales: the complete guide (2026)

At a glance: child vs adult diagnosis

How diagnosis works in Wales

Autism assessment is organised locally through Wales's seven Local Health Boards: Aneurin Bevan, Betsi Cadwaladr, Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf Morgannwg, Hywel Dda, Powys Teaching, and Swansea Bay. Who assesses you, and how long you wait, can depend on where you live.

Children's services operate within a national Welsh Government framework, while adult diagnosis is provided through Wales's Integrated Autism Service (IAS). Wales also has a statutory Code of Practice on the Delivery of Autism Services, which sets out how health boards and local authorities should plan and provide autism services.

Getting a child assessed

Children are usually referred by a GP, health visitor, paediatrician, or school to their local Health Board's Children and Young People's Neurodevelopmental Assessment and Diagnosis Service.

The pathway differs slightly by age and Health Board. Younger children may enter a pre-school pathway, while school-age children generally follow a school-age assessment pathway, and some Health Boards also accept parent referrals in certain circumstances. Once a referral is accepted, a multidisciplinary team, often including paediatricians, child psychiatrists, speech and language therapists, and psychologists, carries out the assessment, drawing on information from parents and school.

For a closer look at what the assessment involves and how to prepare for it, see our guide to child autism assessment.

Getting an adult assessment

Most adults start by asking their GP for a referral to their local Integrated Autism Service (IAS). Some IAS teams also accept self-referrals or referrals from other professionals.

Wales has seven IAS teams, one linked to each Health Board, run jointly with local authorities. As well as diagnostic assessment, they offer post-diagnostic support, information, and advice, though they cannot diagnose anyone under 18. Young people typically become eligible to join the IAS waiting list from around 17 years and 9 months, though this is closer to 17 years and 6 months in some areas, and most areas either expedite the transfer from children's services or continue supporting the young person past their 18th birthday.

What happens during an assessment

An assessment usually involves:

• taking a detailed developmental history
• an interview about current and childhood experiences
• information from parents, partners, carers, or school where available
• direct observation, particularly for children
• standardised assessment tools where appropriate, such as ADOS-2 or ADI-R
• consideration by an appropriately qualified clinician or multidisciplinary team

For adults, information about childhood development can be particularly important. After the assessment process is complete, you should typically receive a written report explaining the outcome and any recommendations for support.

Right to Choose

Right to Choose does not apply in Wales. It is an NHS England arrangement that lets eligible patients registered with a GP in England ask for an NHS-funded referral to an alternative provider.

Wales works differently: services are commissioned through the Welsh Health Boards, and there is no equivalent general right to choose an alternative NHS-funded autism assessment provider. This means a provider advertising a "Right to Choose autism assessment" is generally only able to accept patients registered with a GP in England. You can still choose a private assessment, including from a provider outside Wales, but you would normally pay for it yourself. For a fuller explanation of how the scheme works elsewhere in the UK, see our Right to Choose guide.

Private assessment

Private assessment is an option if you don't want to wait for an NHS assessment, or you want to choose a particular provider.

How much does a private autism assessment cost in Wales?

Prices vary considerably by provider and type of assessment. An initial consultation, or a fully remote assessment, may cost around £600 to £700, while a full multidisciplinary assessment with a written diagnostic report more commonly costs £2,200 to £2,500 or more. Always check exactly what's included before booking, since a lower headline price may cover only an initial consultation rather than a full diagnostic assessment.

How are private autism assessment providers regulated in Wales?

Private healthcare providers in Wales are regulated by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW), rather than the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates providers based in England. If you're considering a provider, check:

• which regulator they're registered with
• who will carry out the assessment
• whether the clinician is appropriately registered with the GMC, HCPC, or another relevant professional body
• whether the assessment follows recognised diagnostic criteria
• whether you receive a full written report
• whether the NHS would accept the diagnosis if you later need it reviewed

Some NHS services have specific requirements when reviewing private diagnoses, so it's worth checking these before paying for an assessment.

After diagnosis

A diagnosis can help you understand your needs and provide evidence when accessing support, reasonable adjustments, and certain benefits. It doesn't automatically qualify you for any particular benefit or support; eligibility usually depends on how your condition affects your day-to-day life.

Depending on your circumstances, a diagnosis may help with:

• Children: an Individual Development Plan (IDP) and support through the Additional Learning Needs system
• Adults: reasonable adjustments at work under the Equality Act 2010
• Benefits: applications for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for eligible adults aged 16 and over, or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for eligible children under 16

Keep your written diagnostic report somewhere safe, ideally with both a digital and a paper copy, since it's useful evidence when applying for support later.

IAS teams can offer post-diagnostic courses, groups, information, and signposting, though what's available varies by area. If you're not offered follow-up support, ask your diagnosing service or IAS what's available locally. For further information and support, you can also contact Autism Wales or the National Autistic Society's Welsh branches.

If you're unhappy with a service decision, start with the relevant Health Board or local authority's complaints process. If you remain dissatisfied, you can complain to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.