England Review Warns ADHD and Autism May Be Over-Diagnosed

What changed

An official review in England has warned that ADHD and autism may be over-diagnosed, particularly among children and young people. It recommends tighter oversight of private assessments paid for by the NHS, a ban on advertising, and a fresh look at waiting lists so people with the highest needs are prioritised.

The review, ordered by Wes Streeting 10 months ago, also says support should not depend entirely on receiving a diagnosis. Schools and workplaces may need to make adjustments, while families may need help with issues such as sleep, anxiety and mental health.

Why it matters

This is not a finding that individual diagnoses are wrong. It is a warning that a stretched system may be struggling at both ends: some people may be assessed too readily, while others with profound needs wait years.

Ryan Watson’s son Atlas waited three years for an autism assessment. By then, he was nearly seven, non-verbal, still in nappies and dependent on others for daily care. His diagnosis arrived only months before he started school.

That delay can turn ordinary family life into a second shift of paperwork, phone calls and fear. The review says children diagnosed with autism or ADHD before 17 are around four times more likely to be out of education, employment or training between 16 and 24. Better support after diagnosis, it argues, could help change that path.

The practical lesson is broader than diagnosis itself. Sleep, anxiety, school adjustments and workplace support are useful concerns whether or not a label has arrived. For families caught on a waiting list, that distinction matters now, not after another appointment.

The government has yet to turn the recommendations into policy. Its next test will be whether it can improve assessment quality and shorten waits without making families prove their needs twice.