How to Speak to Your GP About ADHD or Autism

The GP appointment is the gateway to most ADHD and autism pathways in the UK, whether you go on to NHS, Right to Choose, or private assessment. Done well, the appointment is short and productive. Done badly, it can leave you feeling unheard and the question unresolved. This article covers what to bring, how to frame the conversation, what to ask for, and how to handle common GP responses.

Before the appointment

Two things make GP appointments about ADHD or autism much easier.

Prepare a short written summary

A page or less covering:

• The specific traits or difficulties you have noticed
• How long they have been present and where they show up
• Why you are asking about ADHD or autism now (often a child's diagnosis, a screening tool result, a partner noticing the pattern, or a failed treatment for something else)
• What you would like the GP to do (refer for assessment via NHS, Right to Choose, or signpost to a private route)

Hand it to the GP at the start. It saves clinical time, communicates seriousness, and prevents the conversation getting stuck on generalities.

Bring evidence where possible

Old school reports, family memories, photos, or the result of a validated screening tool such as our online ADHD screening tool. For autism, sensory differences, masking patterns and lifelong social difficulties are useful to summarise.

For a child, school reports, examples of difficulty at home, and an honest description of behaviour across the week are the most useful evidence.

In the appointment

GP appointments in the UK are typically 10 to 15 minutes. The goal is to communicate three things clearly:

1. The pattern has been persistent and dates back to childhood.
2. It is meaningfully affecting daily life in more than one setting.
3. You are asking for a specific next step.

A useful framing: "I have noticed [pattern] across [settings]. It started in childhood. I would like a referral for an [ADHD or autism] assessment via [NHS / Right to Choose / private route, depending on your situation]."

This is calm, clear and difficult to deflect. It also leaves the GP in charge of the clinical decision, which they appreciate.

What to ask for

Depending on your situation:

• NHS referral: ask for a referral to your local adult ADHD or autism service.
• Right to Choose in England: ask the GP to refer you to your chosen NHS-contracted provider. Most providers offer a referral template the GP can use; bring it if you have one. How Right to Choose works in practice covers the practical detail.
• Private assessment: you usually do not need a GP referral for private assessment. The GP appointment is still useful for ruling out other contributing physical health issues and for advance discussion of shared care.

For a child, ask specifically for a referral to the local paediatric ADHD or autism service, or to a Right to Choose provider if one is available in your area.

Common GP responses, and how to handle them

"I am not sure you have ADHD."

A reasonable GP observation. The GP is not the diagnostician; their role is to refer for the assessment that will answer the question. A polite reply: "I understand. I would still like a specialist assessment to clarify the picture."

"The wait is very long."

Often true. If you are in England, ask about Right to Choose at this point. If a private route is on the table, mention it and ask the GP for any relevant medical information for the private clinician.

"Try managing it first."

If you have been managing for years and are now asking for assessment, that is the answer. A polite reply: "I have been managing for [years]. I am asking for assessment now because the picture has not changed and it is affecting [specific area of life]."

"Right to Choose is not something we do here."

Right to Choose is a national NHS entitlement, not a local service. The GP can complete the referral whether or not the practice is familiar with the specific provider. A polite reference to the NHS Constitution usually resolves it.

"Have you tried CBT for anxiety?"

If anxiety has been tried and not resolved the picture, say so. If it has not been tried, you can do both: agree to anxiety treatment while also requesting the ADHD or autism assessment. They are not mutually exclusive.

"We need to do a screening first."

Some practices have a local pre-screening step. This is not a barrier; it is information the GP gathers before the referral. Cooperate and follow up after the screening.

Asking on behalf of a child

Most paediatric ADHD and autism pathways start with school or GP referral. Bring:

• Specific concerns from school, with dates and examples
• A clear summary of behaviour at home across the week
• Information from any previous specialist input
• Your reasons for asking now

Paediatric pathways are usually multidisciplinary; expect referral to a community paediatric or CAMHS service, depending on local arrangements.

If the appointment does not go well

Sometimes it does not. If you feel the GP has not taken the question seriously, your options are:

• Book a second appointment, ideally with a different GP at the same practice, with your written summary
• Ask for a practice complaint or feedback conversation
• Go directly to a private assessment route; you do not need a GP referral for this

A negative GP conversation is not a clinical verdict. It is one GP's response to a difficult question in a short appointment.

What this means in practice

• Treat the GP appointment as a logistical conversation, not a diagnostic one. The GP is referring; the specialist is diagnosing.
• Prepare a one-page written summary and hand it over at the start.
• Be specific about what you want: NHS, Right to Choose, or signposting to private.
• Bring evidence: school reports, screening tool results, family memories.
• If one GP appointment does not go well, try another. The clinical question has not changed.

When to speak to a professional

If the GP route is not working for you or the wait is too long, NeuroFX offers private adult ADHD assessment from our Bedford clinic. For Right to Choose enquiries, we accept referrals for ADHD assessment in England. Seek same-day help via 111 (or 999 in an emergency) for any mental health crisis.

Sources

1. NICE. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management. NG87. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87
2. NICE. Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management. CG142. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg142
3. NHS England. Your choices in the NHS. https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/yhc/your-choices-in-the-nhs/