Adult Autism & ADHD assessments

The Adults with Autism service (opens link in new window) is a run by the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation trust (SWYPFT) (opens link in new window).

The service offers adults diagnostic assessment and/or specialist interventions for people who are 18 years+ and do not have an intellectual disability.

There main clinic is based at the Manygates clinic in Wakefield, however they use a number of community bases, including ones in Kirklees.

Service users have access to a multi-disciplinary team which includes medical, nursing, psychology, occupational therapy and speech & language therapy practitioners. Specialist social work support is also available from the team or from our local authority partners.

Referrals are accepted from GP's, consultants and other services within the SWYPFT.

This services has a FAQ document about the referral process, which can be found here (opens link in new window)

You will be contacted by South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation Trust (SWYPFT) with an appointment for the diagnostic assessment.

Outcome of the assessment:

If you are diagnosed and meet the criteria for an Autism Spectrum Disorder, you and in some cases your family, may have a lot of questions.  You will be offered up to 2 more appointments to discuss the implications of the diagnosis for you and what support may be helpful for you.  This is not compulsory and not everyone feels they need this and decline the offer.

Depending where you live, you may also be offered further specialist health or social care interventions from the Service which will be discussed with you at the time.

ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse .

Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child's circumstances change, such as when they start school.  Most cases are diagnosed when children are 6 to 12 years old. 

The symptoms of ADHD usually improve with age, but many adults who were diagnosed with the condition at a young age continue to experience problems.

People with ADHD may also have additional problems, such as sleep and anxiety disorders.

Getting help 

Many children go through phases where they are restless or inattentive. This is often completely normal and does not necessarily mean they have ADHD.

But you should consider raising your concerns with your child's teacher, their school's special educational needs co-ordinator (SENDCO) or a GP if you think their behaviour may be different from most children their age.

It's also a good idea to speak to a GP if you're an adult and think you may have ADHD, but were not diagnosed with the condition as a child.