ADHD and autism assessment in Perth

NHS routes, private providers, and what to expect if you are seeking ADHD or autism assessment in Perth, Perthshire, or Kinross

Reviewed by ADHD Scot,

NHS assessment in Perth

NHS ADHD and autism assessment in Perth and the surrounding area is provided by NHS Tayside, which covers Perth and Kinross alongside Dundee City and Angus.

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 Tayside are significant. Notably, CAMHS in NHS Tayside suspended new neurodevelopmental referrals in March 2025 due to capacity pressures. If you have a child who needs assessment, it is worth confirming the current status of CAMHS referrals with your GP before being referred.

You can see current reported figures on our NHS waiting times page and more detail on the NHS Tayside 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 general descriptions
  • Mention that symptoms have been present since childhood, even if they were 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 for a neurodevelopmental or ADHD 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 Perth

Private ADHD and autism assessments are available to people in Perth through providers in the area and a wider range of online providers who serve the whole of Scotland. Private assessment typically costs between £800 and £2,000 for adults.

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 providers are legally required to register, services that do not employ, engage, or grant practising privileges to a medical doctor, nurse or other listed professional are exempt, as are England-based online providers regulated by the CQC. Our regulation page explains what this means.

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 validated tools.

Find private providers near Perth →

After a diagnosis in Perth

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. 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 Perth and Kinross is available through Perth and Kinross Council's health and social care services and national organisations including Scottish Autism. Our after diagnosis page has more guidance.

Support groups

Perth has a small but active community of people with ADHD and autism. The Scottish ADHD Coalition lists ADHD support groups across Scotland, and national organisations including ADHD UK and Scottish Autism can point you to local groups in Perthshire. Our support page links to the main national organisations.

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.

Reviewed by ADHD Scot,