ADHD and autism assessment in Stirling

NHS routes, private providers, and what to expect if you are seeking ADHD or autism assessment in Stirling, Falkirk, or Clackmannanshire

Reviewed by ADHD Scot,

NHS assessment in Stirling

NHS ADHD and autism assessment in Stirling and the surrounding area is provided by NHS Forth Valley, which covers Stirling, Falkirk, and Clackmannanshire.

NHS Forth Valley does not operate separate, condition-specific pathways for ADHD or autism assessment. Adults are assessed through Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) where referral criteria are met. For children and young people, referrals go to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), which uses a "Choice appointment" model.

In response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by ADHD Scot in June 2026, NHS Forth Valley confirmed that it cannot provide waiting time data broken down by condition, as extracting those figures would exceed the statutory cost limit under Section 12 of FOISA. You can see the full FOI tracker on our FOI tracker page and current figures for all boards 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 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 to the CMHT for a neurodevelopmental 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.

NHS Forth Valley pathway

For more detail on the NHS Forth Valley pathway, including the Section 12 FOI response and what CMHT assessment involves, see the NHS Forth Valley page.

Private assessment in Stirling

Private ADHD and autism assessments are available to people in Stirling and Falkirk through providers in the area and a wider choice of online providers who serve the whole of Scotland. Private assessment typically costs between £800 and £2,000 for adults, with some variation depending on the provider and 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 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. 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 actively 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 Stirling →

After a diagnosis in Stirling

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 the Stirling and Falkirk area is available through the Clackmannanshire and Stirling and Falkirk health and social care partnerships, and through national organisations including Scottish Autism. Our after diagnosis page has more guidance.

Support groups

Peer support communities for people with ADHD and autism exist across Forth Valley. 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. 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,