If you are considering private ADHD or autism assessment, the cost question is usually the one that decides whether it is on the table at all. This article gives an honest, specific breakdown of what private assessment actually costs in the UK in 2026, what the ongoing costs look like, and what shared care does to the total.
Why people consider private
Private assessment is usually considered when:
- The NHS wait in your area is years long
- Right to Choose is not available locally or its wait is also long
- The specific service you need (combined ADHD and autism, women-specific pathway) is not available through your NHS service
- You want a specific clinician or specific pathway
- The cost is one you can absorb in exchange for time
Cost is rarely the only factor; time and access usually drive the decision more than price.
The assessment fee
A NICE-aligned private adult ADHD or autism assessment with a CQC-registered provider in the UK in 2026 typically costs between £700 and £1,500, depending on the provider, the location, the specific assessment package, and whether additional tools like the ADOS-2 are included.
NeuroFX current fees are listed on the booking page. As a rough guide for planning:
- Adult ADHD assessment: £950
- Autism (ADI-R and ADOS-2) assessment: £950
- QbCheck (added where clinically indicated): £129
- Combined ADHD and autism assessment: combination fee, see booking page
These are correct as of the article's review date; check the booking page for current figures.
A few things worth knowing about what the assessment fee covers:
- It usually includes the full clinical assessment across one or two sessions
- It includes the written report
- It does not usually include ongoing prescribing, medication reviews or therapy
- It does not include separate add-ons such as QbCheck, ADOS-2 modules used outside the standard package, or paid-for second opinions
A wider view of the timeline and what the cost actually buys is in what private adult ADHD assessment actually looks like.
Paying for the assessment
NeuroFX offers interest-free payment options for the assessment fee, so the upfront cost can be spread. Most other providers offer some form of payment plan. Check at the point of booking.
Health insurance sometimes covers private assessment for ADHD or autism, though coverage varies widely by policy. Check the specific terms of your policy before assuming.
The medication question
For ADHD specifically, the cost picture continues after the assessment if medication is part of the plan. This is where shared care matters.
If shared care is accepted
Where the local ICB accepts shared care for ADHD medication initiated privately, the picture is straightforward:
- The private provider initiates and titrates the medication, usually for three to six months
- Once stable, the GP takes over NHS prescribing
- Ongoing NHS prescription charges apply (or free under the usual NHS exemptions)
- The private provider may charge an annual review fee thereafter
In this scenario, the medication cost reverts to NHS rates once shared care begins.
If shared care is declined
Where the local ICB declines shared care, the private prescribing continues. NeuroFX private prescribing is currently £55 per month, with medication reviews every 6 to 12 months at £250.
The annual medication cost in this scenario typically runs to around £900 to £1,500 plus the pharmacy cost of the medication itself, which varies by drug. Methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine prices are listed in the BNF for reference [2].
A typical first year
For an adult with ADHD whose local ICB accepts shared care:
- Assessment: around £950
- First three months of titration with private prescribing: approximately £165 in prescribing fees plus the medication
- Shared care from month four: NHS prescription charges thereafter
- Annual review with the private clinician (if requested): variable
For an adult with ADHD whose local ICB declines shared care:
- Assessment: around £950
- Twelve months of private prescribing: approximately £660 plus medication and at least one £250 medication review
- The same again for each subsequent year on medication
The total first-year cost ranges from around £1,200 to around £2,100 depending on shared care acceptance and the specific medication.
Autism diagnosis: no ongoing medication cost
For autism specifically, there is no autism-specific medication and therefore no ongoing prescribing cost. The cost is largely the assessment itself. Co-occurring conditions (anxiety, depression, ADHD) have their own treatment costs if relevant.
What is harder to budget for
A few things are difficult to budget in advance:
- The shared care decision, which is local-ICB specific and not always knowable until the application is made
- Travel, time off work or childcare for the assessment sessions
- The cost of post-diagnostic therapy, where it is wanted; ADHD or autism-aware therapy ranges widely
- Sensory or environmental adjustments at home or work, some of which can be funded by Access to Work
What this means in practice
- Private adult ADHD or autism assessment in 2026 typically costs £700 to £1,500 with a CQC-registered provider.
- For ADHD specifically, the assessment cost is only part of the picture; the medication question is where the bigger total sits.
- Shared care acceptance is the single biggest variable in long-term cost. Check your local ICB position before committing.
- Right to Choose in England is NHS-funded and removes the cost question for assessment entirely. It is worth exploring first if you are in England.
- Interest-free payment options reduce the upfront pressure where the cost is the deciding factor.
When to speak to a professional
Speak to your GP first to understand your local NHS, Right to Choose and shared care position. NeuroFX offers private adult ADHD assessment from our Bedford clinic with interest-free payment options. Seek same-day help via 111 (or 999 in an emergency) for any mental health crisis.
Sources
- NICE. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management. NG87. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87
- British National Formulary. https://bnf.nice.org.uk/
- Care Quality Commission. https://www.cqc.org.uk/
