Waiting List Expectations Guide
What typically happens in what order after a referral, by country — and what published waiting times actually say, including where they say nothing.
Across nine health and education systems, neurodevelopmental assessment waits are reported in years rather than months and vary more between local areas than between countries — but school support is not conditional on the outcome.
Waiting List Expectations Guide
Frequently asked
How long is the wait for an autism or ADHD assessment?
There is no honest single number. Waits differ by area more than by country, published figures are patchy, and multi-year waits are widely reported in the UK, Ireland, Canada and Australia. Ask your own service in writing for its current wait and your position on the list.
Can I do anything while waiting?
Yes, and it is the most important thing on this page. Schools can make adjustments without a diagnosis, most countries have a school-level support process that runs independently of health services, and a structured record kept during the wait makes the eventual appointment far more productive.
Is a private assessment worth it?
It is faster and it costs money, and whether it is accepted by schools and services varies by country and by assessor. Before paying, ask your local service in writing whether they accept private diagnoses and under what conditions — the answer differs enormously and is much cheaper to obtain than the assessment.
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