About Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Some people with ASD grow up without their condition being recognised, but it’s never too late to get a diagnosis.

Some people may be scared of being diagnosed because they feel it will “label” them, and lower other people’s expectations of them.

But there are several advantages to getting a diagnosis. It helps people with the condition and their families understand ASD and decide what sort of support they need. A diagnosis may also make it easier to access autism-specific services and claim benefits. A diagnosis can lead to reasonable adjustments being made within the work environment.

See your GP if you think you may have ASD and ask them to refer you to a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist or Psych Consult Belfast.

The National Autistic Society website has information about being diagnosed with ASD if you’re an adult.

If you’re already seeing a specialist for other reasons, you may want to ask them for a referral instead.

You can also read the NICE guidelines about the recognition, referral, diagnosis and management of adults on the autism spectrum (PDF, 267kb).