ADHD and autism assessment in Edinburgh

NHS routes, private providers, costs, and what to expect if you are seeking an ADHD or autism assessment in Edinburgh or the Lothians

NHS assessment in Edinburgh

NHS ADHD and autism assessment in Edinburgh and the surrounding area is provided by NHS Lothian, which covers the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, and West Lothian.

For adults, referrals go through your GP to adult psychiatry or a specialist neurodevelopmental service. For children and young people, referrals typically go through CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).

NHS waiting times in Lothian are significant, with most adults currently waiting several years from referral to assessment. You can see current reported figures on our NHS waiting times page.

Getting a referral

To start the NHS process, speak to your GP. It helps to:

  • Be specific about your symptoms — give examples from everyday life, not just "I struggle to focus"
  • Mention that symptoms have been present since childhood, even if not recognised at the time
  • Complete a validated screener beforehand — our ADHD self-screener or autism screener gives you something concrete to bring along
  • Ask specifically for a referral to the neurodevelopmental or adult psychiatry service for assessment

If your GP is reluctant, you are entitled to ask why and to seek a second opinion from another GP within the same practice.

Private assessment in Edinburgh

A number of private providers offer ADHD and autism assessments in Edinburgh and the Lothians, either in-person or online. Private assessment typically costs between £800 and £2,000 for adults, with some variation depending on the provider and the type of assessment.

Key things to consider when choosing a private provider:

HIS registration — Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is Scotland's regulator for private healthcare. An HIS-registered provider has been inspected and meets required standards. Not all private providers operating in Scotland hold this registration. You can filter by HIS status on our compare tool.

Shared care support — If you receive a private ADHD diagnosis and are prescribed medication, you will initially pay for private prescriptions. Many people then ask their NHS GP to take over prescribing through a shared care agreement, which is cheaper long-term. Not all GPs agree to this, and not all private providers support the process. See our shared care guide for more detail.

Assessment method — A thorough assessment uses validated rating scales (such as Conners, DIVA 2.0, or ADOS-2 for autism) and gathers information from someone who knows you, not just self-report. Our compare tool shows which providers use these tools.

Find private providers near Edinburgh →

After a diagnosis in Edinburgh

ADHD medication

If you receive an ADHD diagnosis and are prescribed medication privately, you can ask your NHS GP to take over prescribing. This requires a shared care agreement. NHS Lothian has a shared care protocol for ADHD medication, but individual GPs retain the right to decline. Our shared care guide explains the process and what to do if your GP refuses.

Autism support

Following an autism diagnosis, support in Edinburgh is available through a range of routes. Edinburgh City Council's social care and health services coordinates adult support, and organisations such as Autism Initiatives Scotland provide support specifically for autistic adults. Our after diagnosis page has more guidance on next steps.

Support groups

Edinburgh has an active community of people with ADHD and autism. Peer support groups, both in-person and online, can be found through ADHD UK and Scottish Autism. Our support page links to national organisations that can point you to local groups in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Useful links

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