Below are some of the questions that families often ask about autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) services in Kent and Medway.
Depending on where you live and the age of your child, the provider of the services – and therefore some answers – may be slightly different.
No, there is lots of help and support available that can be accessed without a diagnosis.
You can find support locally, nationally and at school.
No, your child should not need a diagnosis to access support in school. Every school has a duty to make reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of your child.
Schools should be looking at where a child’s strengths are and where they need more support. The school can then talk to the family and put in adaptions and interventions to help the child.
This is not correct. If your child attends a school in Kent and you have questions or concerns about the special educational needs (SEN) support in place there, email seninclusionadvisers
If you live in Medway and require further support on SEN, the Inclusion team is based across Medway in four Children and Families Hubs so please email your nearest hub.
Strood Children and Families Hub: inclusionstrood
Gillingham Children and Families Hub: inclusiongillingham
Chatham Children and Families Hub: inclusionchatham
Wayfield and Rainham Children and Families Hub: inclusionwr
For other independent advice contact Medway SEND Information, Advice, Support Service.
You can find support locally, nationally and at school.
There are more than 10,000 children and young people waiting for an autism assessment in Kent and Medway, with more than 4,000 waiting for an ADHD assessment.
It is important to remember that you don't need a diagnosis to access support.
Over the last few years, demand for autism and ADHD assessments in England has risen at such speed that services are unable to keep up.
This is partly due to an increase in awareness of neurodivergent conditions, which has led more people to seek support. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic also had an impact on children’s health and wellbeing.
Every child is reviewed by a clinical professional when they are referred to the waiting list. Some children will have a greater need for an assessment so they will be seen sooner than others.
Some children will have already been seen by other services, or they have other conditions, so we already know they need to be seen as quickly as possible.
We also have a legal requirement to prioritise some children. For example, children who have parents in the Armed Forces, or who have a residential placement in school or a fostering placement at risk of breaking down will be prioritised for an assessment.
Children under five years old who are non-verbal, or who have other conditions, will also be prioritised.
There are five different NHS organisations in Kent and Medway that provide assessments. As they cover different locations and different age groups, some waiting lists are longer than others.
This table tells you which organisations (or providers) cover which areas and age groups.
More and more children join the waiting list every month. If they have a greater need than those already on the list, they may be placed ahead of your child.
We have a legal duty to prioritise some children ahead of others. For example, children who have parents in the Armed Forces, or who have a residential placement in school or a fostering placement at risk of breaking down will be prioritised for an assessment.
Children under five years old who are non-verbal, or who have other conditions, will also be prioritised.
Every child is different, so every assessment is different.
There is no simple test to determine whether your child has ADHD or autism, but your specialist can make an accurate diagnosis after a detailed assessment.
An assessment for ADHD may include:
- a physical examination, which can help rule out other possible causes for the symptoms
- a series of interviews with you or your child
- interviews or reports from other significant people, such as parents and teachers
An assessment for autism may include:
- questions about your child's development, such as when they started talking
- watching how you and your child interact, and how your child plays
- a review of any reports sent by their school, nursery or GP
- questions about their medical history
- a physical examination
The support available after diagnosis is available to anyone who needs it – whether they have a diagnosis or not.
All services in education, health and social care have a legal responsibility to make adjustments to make sure everyone can access the support they need.
A diagnosis will not always tell you what your child needs to support them. People who work with your child on a regular basis are much more likely to be able to identify how to help your child.
If your child has ADHD, it may be appropriate for them to take medication which can only be prescribed with a diagnosis. However, not every child will need medication.
Visit the local and national support pages for more information.
Your child will be kept on the waiting list with their current provider until an assessment is completed. However, if your child will turn 18 before they are assessed, they will be transferred to adult services for their assessment to take place there. This will not affect their place on the waiting list.
No, not all children with a diagnosis will need an EHCP. Some children with an EHCP will not have a diagnosis.
EHCPs are issued to children or young people who have significant, complex, and long-term special educational needs that require additional provision.
Most children’s needs can be met without an EHCP.
No. Schools gain additional funding based on the needs of their pupils. These can be assessed through plans and reviews for children.
One of the main sources of financial support available is the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) which is provided by the government to help with the additional costs faced by parents and carers of disabled children under the age of 16.
You do not need a formal diagnosis to claim for DLA. A child or young person may qualify for DLA if they have a physical disability and/or Special Educational Needs and require more help or supervision than other children of the same age.
When ‘This is Me’ has been introduced in a school, it will be the only method of referral. This means your child will get access to support from a new community team long before they have an assessment, which may not be needed once the support is in place.
Many children will not need a diagnosis at all as ‘This is Me’ provides personalised support based on a child’s needs.