ADHD and ASD pathways and support

ADHD and ASD pathways and support

We are carrying out an inquiry into ADHD & ASD pathways and support. We want to hear about waiting times for diagnosis, how conditions are managed, the impact of rising demand on individuals & staff, and explore how to improve service capacity, referrals & support. To learn more click the '?' above.

Posts

Awaiting diagnosis

Wish things were better

Jacks Story

Awful

Children wait time and support

Long wait times for diagnosis

Toddler Diagnosis Pathway

Recieved diagnosis for my son in 22 months.

The wait for diagnosis is beyond shocking

First fobbed off, now on an endless waiting list no update

Entire system Is shambles

7 year wait for help for a child, single parent, no support

Why does this need a title?

Unacceptable wait times

The Impossible Diagnosis

Fighting a losing battle

Mum of adhd asd children

Professional and someone with personal experience

Pathway does not include parent views.

Turned away

Does anyone have a positive story for this?

Hellish

Congrats! you’re autistic -and on your own!

32 months and counting

[redacted]’s pathway to diagnosis

3/4 year waiting lists are not acceptable

Poor quality assessment for adhd teen

Adult Referral Still Waiting on Diagnosis

Unavailable support

We are desperate for help

Neurodiversity diagnosis across different services

Awaiting assessment for my child

Autism and ADHD timelines

Abysmal length of waiting time.

Awaiting diagnosis

Our journey

Ms

Parent of child undiagnosed ADHD

From an early years officer in council based education

ASD waiting times

4 years

No diagnosis no help

Leaving kids that long it makes little difference

Lucky to be alive

Lost childhoods

Functionality Limbo

Gaps in services led to my teen attempting suicide

Still waiting

An endless battle for help

Late diagnosed middle aged male struggling day to day

No clear pathway to diagnosis

One child waiting, one child denied an appointment

Shocking treatment of children and families

My Autism Journey - [redacted]

No hope for my future without support

Fight for autism assessment

Mother of child diagnosed at 7

My experience of diagnosis

AudHD and their complimentary dance

My experience of navigating services on behalf of my son

Dual diagnosis - dual dissapointment

Late Diagnosed Female

Diagnosis

Experiences as a social worker

Adhd assessment

My daughter’s diagnosis

A Family with ADHD, ASD and other co morbid conditions.

Unable to help my son

'Quirky and wired differently', schools avoid issues

Misdiagnosed & Abandoned by NHS, privately diagnosed after

Long waiting times

Difficulties as an immigrant to Scotland with ADHD

Journey to diagnosis

Referral and shared care refused

Adult diagnosis

Fife ND Pathway Experience

Total and absolute lack of support available

5/6 of my children diagnosed or waiting on a diagnosis

Feeling neglected

Parent of two adult children.

Psychiatrists who make assumptions with catastrophic results

Waiting for Half of my Twenties. Mental Health No Mans Land.

My child has been failed by the system

Abandoned

Diagnosis of ASD & ADHD and child with diagnosis of ASD

Waiting times

Undiagnosed adhd has destroyed her life

My daughter

Our experience.

Please help me!

Support

Adult adhd

Experience

Long wait times affecting outcomes

Constant waiting mode

Delayed diagnosis

ADHD & ASD diagnosed and carer of kids diagnosed

A year to hear what diagnosis is.

queer identity and possibly autistic

Barriers to girls

Patiently waiting for very little to be done.

Desperate Times

Diagnosed then ditched.

8 year battle to even be considered for referral

Can’t Get Diagnosis

Declined support due to no service

Failed children

Waiting list of 4 years in South Lanarkshire

Constant waiting mode

ADHD appointments

Support

Four year wait for AuDHD diagnosis

Aged 46 and being told hes NEURODIVERSE

Late diagnosis, private pathway only option

Teenage female unable to gain government funded support

Appalling and ruins lives

Horrendous delays

This system is failing our children

A lifetime of masking has debilitated my 15 yr old daughter

Change is necessary

Scotland ADHD treatment is behind & prohibitively expensive

Teacher experience of ASD pupils

The current system is failing my child - 5 year minimum wait

A Neurodivergent Family in crisis…

ASD and ADHD not the only ones

Assessments for adult ADHD dont exist in my area

Disgraceful is understatement!

No hope for diagnoses

30 year build up for nothing!?!

Lack of support

ADHD dad, waiting for treatment and daughter's diagnosis

Families left in limbo facing lengthy waits to be seen

Stop suicide, lost yearsand inpatient admissions -treat adhd

Adhd hell

No more meds

GP and mother with a wealth of experience

Prolonged waiting times for neurodiverse diagnosis

Children Adhd and years on waiting lists

Little Hope

5 year wait times imminent

The long wait.

Frustration

A lot of Confusion and difficult revelations

Parenthood with a child with Autism

Longest road of my life

My Experience Seeking an ADHD and/or Autism Diagnosis

What about other Neurodiverse disorders - eg - FND

A long journey without a map

Extremely long waiting list for diagnosis

My son's story

Poor Care

Waiting for adhd assessment

Children and families failed at every hurdle

Parent with little support

Awaiting assessment

Scotlands postcode neurodiverse diagnosis lottery

No NHS support for my autistic adhd son

Journey with neurodivergence so far

NDAS EXPERIENCE

Parent of child seeking autism and adhd ax

Mother and grandmother of ADHD diagnosed young people

Diagnosis process delays and frustration

Autism assessment, diagnosis and wait time

Mum of 3, (two asn)

Blocked from diagnosis because I'd "managed fine" for 40 yrs

Unable to get son on waiting list

ADHD

ADHD awaiting appointment age 8

A Constant Battle

Inaccurate information, damaging to neurodivergent people

ADHD mum of ADHD teen and professional assessing ADHD/Autism

Where is the help?

Assessment Referral Experience as a 27 year old woman.

A never ending fight

Diagnosed with ASC and no support given as an adult

Lack of support and diagnosis for ASD son

Yet another broken NHS system

Misdiagnosed and self diagnosed

Parent of child with ASD

Will I ever get a diagnosis?

Doctors/MH nurse wouldn't take my concerns seriously.

'Crisis Referal'

Diagnosed by NHS and then forgotten about!

My story as an autistic and ADHD mother in Scotland My name

Mum and teenage daughter awaiting assessment

The Wilderness

Had to go private at 44

Insufficient support and long waiting times.

ADHD assessment for P5 child

Never made a ripple till she was drowning

ADHD vs. autism pathways: like night and day

My Experience being a carer for my Son with ADHD and Autism

No support for son

Give the panel ability to diagnose all conditions

Diagnosed with adhd- not much support

Support what is that?

12 year old Child waiting over 3 years for testing

Waiting 3 over years for diagnosis

3 yrs plus awaiting assessment

Lengthy wait

Shouldn't have to pay thousands for help and support

Where is our “right to choose”?

Professional with experience diagnosing ADHD/ASD

Barriers to ADHD medication access post-diagnosis

The long wait ….

Ab

Ridiculous waiting times, unsympathetic staff

Joint Diagnosis of ASD and Inattentive-Type ADHD

Pathway and support

4 year wait for autism diagnosis and support

ASD pathway

Left to suffer

Wait times are ridiculous; shared care patchy

Left in the unknown

Waiting for diagnosis

2 years and counting

2 years and counting

Parent/carer of child with ASD & ADHD

Trying to receive GP help was soul destroying

Having to go private

High functioning neurodiversity

Denied Diagnosis after years of waiting due to lack of funds

Doesn't make sense

I am only a number that our NHS has failed.

Why the wait?

NHS Reject ADHD Assessment - 8 month wait 4 complaint reply

Had to go private : no other choice

Referral to CAMHS for 9 year old child rejected

Denied a diagnosis

Parent of a child waiting on a diagnosis

No pathway for adults seeing diagnosis in Ayrshire

Autism diagnosis journey

Waiting, waiting, always waiting

Undiagnosed, put off joining the wait list

TOO OLD TO COUNT?

Son diagnosed autistic awaiting adhd daughter to be assesed

Adult experience in Dundee

My child and our families experience

ADHD

Abandoned by NHS

Not all children are on the spectrum

Asd/adhd

We are in limbo

Son woth ASD and Daughter awaiting diagnosis.

Disconnect Service

Awaiting diagnosis of ASD for son and daughter

Camhs failed me

NHS is a waste of time.

Son dropped off pathway

ADHD, Autism and PDA - support in schools

Dismissed

Diagnosed but work with people desperate for an assessment.

Moved to Scotland.

Eyp working with ASD/ADHD children

Waiting 3 years, another 2 at least

Awaiting diagnosis

Neurodevelopmental Waiting Lists

I have been refused any support or diagnosis pathway

Long journey to access help

Mother of young adult with ADHD

Brutal situation for ADHD/ASD kids

One of the many awaiting assessment and support

Without support I could stay in work

I realised my son was autistic through facebook reels!

Parent of child diagnosed with ASD and ADHD

CAMHS Journey

Seeking a diagnosis of Autism and ADHD

CAMHS professional

Long wait and no updates

Adult treatment pathways for ADHD (or lack thereof)

Extensive wait for assessment for my son

Lengthy wait lists

Left in limbo

Diagnosed as an Adult Woman - Combined Type

No services and little support from schools

Therapist Insight: ADHD & ASD Pathways

Why does it take so long?

Got there in the end... but it isn't accessible to everyone

Lack of support

Adult Diagnosis

I have two son awaiting ADHD diagnosis

No ongoing support even after diagnosis

ADHD diagnosis in 5 year old boy

Six year old daughter awaiting assessment… years to go

Waiting List

No diagnosis pathway in Ayrshire

Poor provision, children left to suffer

Autistic adult with Autistic children

Utterly failed by the NHS

Lack of support across the system

Son with ASD

Neurotypical process for Neurodivergent minds

Seems there is no hope of diagnosis for parent or child

The Long Journey

Still waiting with no updates

I help others but nobody helps me

Denied assessment after serious suicide attempt

Never diagnosed - no more room at the Inn

CAMHS failed my child

ADHD - post-diagnosis support

Refusal of nhs assessment due to no services

Adult Female Renfrewshire

Suffering child

Totally let down by NHS

A Lost Childhood

My child has suspected neurodiversity.

Mental health pathway

Difficult for home educators

Child with ADHD

ADHD/Autism awaiting diagnosis for my son

Let Down & Marginalised

The system is failing us

Utterly failed by NHS - left up #### creek without a paddle

Waiting game

ASD/ADHD Diagnosis long wait times, but also over diagnosed!

Left in the lurch with struggling children

I flew under the radar, we are a missed generation

My son deserves answers!

Two Children Awaiting assessment

ADHD

Pathway confusion

Waiting 5 years and counting for an assessment for my child

Long waits and not enough understanding from GP or Schools

You Can’t Look Away And Pretend This Doesn’t Exist

My foster son

Parent of child waiting on diagnosis

Son diagnosed with autism but didn’t trigger extra support

2 years for autism diagnosis, still waiting for adhd

Mother of 17 yr old girl diagnosed 2024

Being ignored

More than a label- the impact of delayed diagnosis

Long wait for an older woman

Anonymous

Still waiting for CAMHS assessment

Not able to get assessed

My son

Lack of support for females

No meaningful support leads to life-ending outcomes

ADHD Assessment

Still waiting

A long wait for my son. Cancelled waiting list for myself.

A diagnosis IS needed!

Primary Teacher Experience

The service is leaving women and girls behind.

Worse than useless service

The frustrating journey of my son

Difficult to get support and diagnosis

Stuck on a waitlist while mental health still declines.

One daughter with adhd and autism, older daughter no help

The NHS failed me

Good support but takes years of fighting.

Life ruined by undiagnosed ADHD/ASD

Education and Healthcare both have a role to play

Kid with diagnosis, me with working diagnosis

Lack of support

“She’s doing fine in school “

Menopause and undiagnosed ADHD

Endlessly waiting

Children and adults waiting years for diagnosis

Broken system

A lonely journey

Lack of support

Without a private diagnosis, I'd be dead

Lack of support in local area

No access to assessment or treatment

Parent

Has my son been forgotten?

Inability to access assessment.

Undiagnosed and frustrated

How NHS Ayrshire and Arran failed me

NHS Support is non-existant - DRs care more about money.

Waiting for help

I was diagnosed with depression 26 years ago.

Even with diagnosis support and services are limited

Lack of support

4 year wait for a diagnosis and then…no support

Took me to get diagnosed. Then had to pay private for meds

Lanarkshire camhs

Let down by funding cuts to support -Angus Adult ASD support

My husband, son and I are all struggling without help.

Costly diagnosis

Denied testing/diagnosis because I'm unemployed

WHY DOESN'T IT MATTER?

Had to go private due to no adult diagnosis in my area

Private Diagnosis

I have been an AN teacher for 10 years. Self diagnosed too.

A long road ahead

Costs a fortune to live life - a massive failure

Wait times are harmful

FAILURES BY CAMHS

Waiting for 3 supports

INVISIBLE

Parents who paid £2500 for private assessment

Multiple roles

The system doesn't work

incredibl...y frustrating

ADHD Experience

No support unless my child was in direct danger

Two AuDHD children - years on the CAMHS waiting list

My daughter, [redacted]

Resigned

Scotland government failing us and our children

Son diagnosed with ADHD

Lack of support

Diagnosis pathway

I just want to not feel like I am failing in life

Distress of waiting and time for receiving support

No adult referrals in Lanarkshire.

Belittled and ignored

Diagnosed abroad, waitlisted in the UK

mother of 10year old autistic child

No way forward for adults with no diagnosis of adhd/autism

Failed by NHS

Minefield and postcode lottery existing all over Scotland

Un/Mis-diagnosed with no hope of correction

ASD why do to you want a label

Too masked to be helped, too tired to keep fighting!

Feeling ignored and in need of support

Autism waiting list closed

ADHD assessment

Parent experience

Feeling defeated

Adhd diagnosis at 48

Diagnosis

My ADHD Diagnosis Experience: Healthcare Discrimination

Parents' opinion doesn't matter

Long wait for Assessment

Endless wait for diagnosis and support

[redacted]

Our ASD Diagnosis and no support

Forced to go private to get diagnosed

Saddened and frustrated

ADHD, ASD, and waiting

Autism diagnosed, waiting in ADHD assessment queue.

Forced to go private.

Misogyny and Abandonment

ADHD pathway is essential

15 year old daughter diagnosed privately

Frustrated mother of ADHD offspring.

Late diagnosis

Diagnosed late after being misdiagnosed for years.

ADHD & no support

Diagnosis and support for children needs to improve

There isn’t any help available to me

[redacted]

Adhd and Autism Assessments not available in Kirkcaldy

46 year old with 10 year old both awaiting next steps

My daughter is still waiting on assesement

Private Diagnosis - awaiting treatment

Fed up waiting - had to pay to go private.

Lack of support and funding

ADHD / LD

Waiting

ADHD and the impact in midlife during menopause.

Diagnosed, disappointed and dismayed.

afterwards, you are alone

Service provider for parents/children and staff in schools

So nearly spotted in childhood

Diagnosed with ASD & ADHD at 34 years old

A family torn apart

Researcher, parent, late-diagnosed autistic woman, all these

Systemic Failures - Move from transacting to transforming

Seeking diagnosis - forever waitlisted

Need diagnosis but refused an assessment

Adult Diagnosis after being signed off from work.

very Late Diagnosis ASD

Long wait for support and diagnosis

Play Therapist

ASD/ADHD Twins

Impossible to access ADHD support

Struggling to survive

What support?

My undiagnosed journey so far

Years lost of my life

Child waiting diagnosis neurodivergent

no help or support available

Awaiting Diagnosis

Endless waiting

Daughter being failed

1945 days

My son experience

ADHD assessment await 2nd stage for almost a year on NHS

Awaiting assessment

Supporting my husband who has recently been diagnosed.

Impact of late diagnosis on entire ND family

Neurodivergent person, mother and practitioner

Our family's experience of diagnosis

ADHD Diagnosis

Seeking ADHD diagnosis

Not good enough

Usless system

Neglect, profiteering and suspect ethics?

Waiting for a lifetime...

My daughter has an Autism diagnosis (also PDA)

By the time I get a diagnosis it might be too late

Failure

Daughter suspected AuADHD

Mother of two ASD boys

Challenges in ADHD Diagnosis and Shared Care Access

Experiences fo ADHD, Depression and co-morbidities

Long and Lost

Long waiting lists - private diagnosis - refusal

Failures of a supposed modern society

Life long struggle

Where is the mental health service?

I wish ADHD was better understood - I had no idea.

Something needs to change

Will I ever be seen for assessment of ADHD in the NHS ?

More awareness in mental health services

Orkney support falls short

Lack of diagnosis

No support

Parent of 2 neurodivergent children- fighting over 18 years

My families journey

No choice but to go private, against principles.

Positive ADHD Story

'Everybody procrastinates'

ASD diagnosis

Misdiagnosed and masking

Left in Limbo: A Child at Risk | ADHD and Autism Crisis

Inconsistent Support

Applied before highers - finished college and still waiting

Parent of children with ADHD

Misdiagnosis ruined my life

Son's diagnosis

Waiting for too long and giving up

Cant access support I need because of incomplete diagnosis

My Experience, Currently Undiagnosed from Rob

Still waiting

A long, hopeless, and emotionally bruising process

Not yet diagnosed

Disappointing

Experience as a women

5.5 years waiting, no further forward

My story

Change is needed

Long wait for assessment

ASD Diagnosis

Forced to go private

Son with ADHD and DLD - no option other than private route

What support?

Late Diagnosed, Struggling!

Waiting is too long

Misdiagnosed with EUPD/BPD

No diagnosis are taking place in my health board area

My experience

Seeking teen diagnosis

Continuous failings

My experience

ADHD a condition that isn’t that detrimental apparently

Deplorable lack of care.

ADHD in women- late diagnosis

Accused of queue jumping by GP

No support - left to suffer - palmed off

Tired of feeling shame and depressed because I have ADHD

Assessment pathway for ADHD

Daughter's lengthy road to PDA diagnosis and dead end for me

51 year old woman and 3 children with autism and adhd and TS

No place left to go

I'm really struggling and can't get help

Still waiting

ADHD and Me

Teaching, Parenting and Living with ASD and ADHD

No support, forced to go private

No NHS Pathway for ADHD Diagn

A very long wait

Lack of support across the board.

Completely let down

Parent of AuDHD child and spouse for autistic husband

Struggling to Access Support

Mixed path

My son's experience

Scared of long wait times for diagnosis

Our children are suffering!

A tale of very little support

Self-diagnosed awaiting assessment

My journey to diagnosis

What pathway??? I had to pay!

3 year wait for diagnosis only to be thrown to the side

Experience of my child

New neurodivergence pathway needed

Late diagnosed and lost

Teenage son diagnosed asd but no help or support provided

Poor NHS access to care

Adult ADHD/Autism Pathways

Let down since childhood

Let down, paying thousands for treatment

Our Story

5 years and counting

ADHD

No support

Failing myself and being failed by the system

Lack of support

Parent on ASD

I don't know who I am

Lack of options and support Argyll

Provision of treatment delayed by bureaucratic imbroglio

4 years with CAMHS

Overcoming systemic barriers: grieving opportunities lost

this is what it’s like when you ‘don’t look sick’

Privately diagnosed through necessity

Parent View

Adult Female High-Masking AuDHD = Atypical

Adult Woman: Depression in the Unknown Without a Diagnoses

A long road ahead still

Awaiting ASD assessment

We need help.

Difficulty in getting ADHD and autism diagnosis

Diagnosis via CAMHS

Multiply neurodivergent family still seeking support

Ignored by medical profession until I was 48! (Woman)

Shared care agreement refusal

Detrimental Long wait for diagnosis

[redacted] - Autism

5 year waiting list!!

Ruining my life

Late diagnosed female

Diagnosed with ADHD at age 31, parent of undiagnosed childre

Son aged 7

Dismissed by NHS, lucky to have Private Cover

Family ASD

Not in crisis

Positive NHS experience

Service transfer and Covid

Son now 11. Had a dual diagnosis privately.

Autism & ADHD in girls

ADHD Awaiting Diagnosis

AHDH private diagnosis

Unclear about pathway for diagnosis and support

My son's experience

Not enough support for children.

A Parents Experience

My Sons experience

No option but to pay privately

Need more support

Where is the support for kids?

At my witts end

Abandoned

Fighting for my autistic child's right to equality

Being a carer for two ASD children

Diagnosed after ~5 years, waiting 6 months for titration

Frustrating barriers to access

Neurodevelopmental Pathway

Abandoned by our services

7 year old daughter unable to attend school and no where to

ADHD isn't just being 'forgetful', it's a disability

Totally abandoned

Class Teacher Experience

Cannot get help

Please put more resources into this

Fife adult mental health care MIA

A new opportunity to live

Waiting for diagnosis for ADHD and autism

Adult Diagnosis

Early Years Diagnosis Delay

Care experienced child completely failed by NHS

Will I ever be assessed?

A fight for assessment and treatment, mum and 2 kids

Driven to Seek Private Diagnosis

ASD Experience

Living with ADHD and Barriers to Assessment in Scotland

Help more people via a simple fix.

Support for ADHD in Scotland is woefully lacking

Waiting list closed

Effects of a long wait

Had to seek private diagnosis for £850

Its a broken system that keeps getting cut

An Autism/ADHD Individual Submission for you

Failing patients

Utterly failed by my country

Late diagnosed after a breakdown

Does it have to be this complex?

Child becoming an adult while still waiting for help

At a loss

Broken System

Diagnosed autistic at 40

Still awaiting a diagnosis

Lengthy wait was costly

Unable to get help

Autism assessment

My family ASD journey

Diagnosed with ASD at 42 and refused ADHD assessment

Frustrated

Late diagnosis and its struggles

Our family's long journey

What support?

No Support Available

My experience, in a nutshell.

ASD Delays and Lack of Support

No option for NHS assessment or diagnosis. Feel v. stuck!

Unable to access support through NHS

My sons story

Autistic Musings: Support Stories.

Feeling lost

Son 13 struggling with ASD traits

Diagnostic delays

Parent/Partner Experience

Experience as a parent & an educator in HE.

Suicidally depressed since age 10 due to lack of support

Punished for saving nhs money by going private

Supporting my teenage daughter

Long wait

Systemic stigmatisation leading to people being failed

Parent of Autistic Daughter

Not taken seriously - no pathway available

Parent experience

ASD son awaiting ADHD diagnosis

Too many hurdles

Support while waiting for diagnosis

ADHD diagnosis and support

Years of waiting to start diagnosis then dropped

Broken Family

Neurodiversity assessment and services

4 years and waiting

I would like to share my experience with being diagnosed

Waiting for assessment

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