Autism Diagnostic Service (LADS)

You can be referred to the Leeds Autism Diagnostic Service by a healthcare professional or refer yourself. For more details on the referral process through a healthcare professional or for second opinions, please visit our Information for Healthcare Professionals page.

• Self-referrals​
• Criteria​
• Referrals from carers​
• Second opinions​
• Help with completing the form​
• What happens next​
• Booking your initial assessment​

​Self-referrals

You can refer yourself for an autism assessment. To do this, please fill in the Leeds Autism Diagnostic Service Referral Form and email the completed form and any supporting documents to referral.lypft@nhs.net. Make sure to complete the form fully and provide as much information as possible. Incomplete forms or those that don’t meet the criteria will be declined. If you wish to to have a printed version, please contact the service.

Criteria for self-referral:

• You must be over 18 years old. If you are under 18, please contact the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
• You must be registered with a GP in Leeds.
• You must consent to the referral and understand the assessment process, including the possibility of not being diagnosed with autism.
• You must have experienced autistic features during childhood. Be ready to share your childhood experiences with our professionals. Information from family members, school reports, or medical reports can help. If family information isn’t available, we can still proceed, but it may be harder to reach a conclusion.

Referrals from carers

Carers can refer someone they suspect is autistic. Ensure you have consent from the person to make the referral. If they cannot give consent, explain why an autism assessment is in their best interests. If you wish to to have a printed version, please contact the service.

Second opinions

Sometimes, people ask for a second opinion after having an autism assessment, either with us or another service, if they don’t agree with the diagnosis.

We only offer a second opinion if there is new and compelling information. This usually means additional developmental or collateral history from a mental health professional or a close relative.

If you have new information and would like a second opinion, please fill in the referral form. If you wish to to have a printed version, please contact the service.

Help with completing the form

We understand that filling in the referral form can be challenging. While we cannot directly help with the forms, you can ask a relative, friend, or healthcare professional for assistance. If you need the referral information or form in an easy read format or another language, please let us know.

What happens next?

Referrals are reviewed daily.

If your form doesn’t meet the criteria, it suggests that autism is unlikely, or if the form is incomplete, we’ll send you a letter within five days explaining what to do next. This might involve providing more information or directing you to another service.

If your referral is accepted, you will receive a letter within five days confirming you are on the waiting list and outlining the next steps. This letter will include forms for ‘Request for Information’, ‘Developmental History’, and ‘Collateral Information’. Please complete and return these forms as soon as possible.

Booking your initial assessment

Once we receive your forms, we will add you to our appointment booking list. This can currently take up to 31 months. When space is available, you will receive an appointment letter. If you can’t attend, notify us as soon as possible.

We provide a variety of appointment options and strive to accommodate your preferences whenever possible. Please let us know if you prefer an in-person meeting or a video call, and we will do our best to arrange it. Appointments are typically scheduled with one to two weeks’ notice. If you are available for a short-notice appointment, please indicate this on your form.