Diagnosis
A diagnosis can help families understand their child and access support.
A diagnosis can help families understand their child and access support.
Obtaining a diagnosis in the UK can involve a long wait. If you are concerned about your child’s development, speak to your GP or health visitor.
Some children have more than one diagnosis. For example, one child could have:
It can be difficult to navigate multiple diagnoses as a family.
A diagnosis is not always required to receive support. For example, schools can make adjustments without one.
The process of getting a diagnosis can involve long waiting times. The links below provide more information.
NHS website page on choices within healthcare services
National Autistic Society website page on diagnosis
Mencap website page on diagnosis in learning disabilities
Young Minds website page on mental health for parents of children
If you have any concerns about a child’s mental or physical health, or development, contact your GP or health visitor.
For general guidance, the NHS website has information on a wide range of health conditions.
If you’re worried about a symptom and not sure what help you need, NHS 111 can tell you what to do next.
For emergencies, call 999.
These are a brief summary of some of the most common diagnoses in neurodevelopmental differences.
We don’t repeat what other charities already do well. We focus on what falls between diagnoses. The external links below can provide more information, advice and support on different diagnoses.
If you are concerned about your child, contact your GP or health visitor.
ADHD is a condition where the brain works differently to most people. A child or young person may show signs such as:
Autism is a lifelong condition that affects how a person communicates and experiences the world. An autistic child may:
Cerebral palsy affects movement and coordination. It is caused by differences in brain development, usually before or around birth.
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that mainly affects reading and spelling.
Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty with numbers.
Read our Easy Read resource on Dyscalculia
External links:
The Dyscalculia Association promotes understanding of maths difficulties in the UK
National Numeracy charity has a page on dyscalculia
Dyscalculia Network UK is a community interest company promoting awareness of maths difficulties
Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21.
NHS website page on Down’s syndrome
Down Syndrome UK is a parent led charity with resources for families
Down’s Syndrome Association supports people and their carers
DCD affects physical coordination. A child with DCD may:
Dyspraxia Foundation UK has information for families
Epilepsy is a neurological condition. It affects the brain and causes seizures. Symptoms of seizures can vary, see the NHS page for more information.
Young Epilepsy is a UK charity for children and young people with epilepsy and associated conditions
FASD describes a range of lifelong conditions that can result from exposure to alcohol before birth. A child with FASD may:
Global Development Delay (GDD) describes a significant delay across two or more areas of development compared to children of the same age. It is usually identified in children under 5.
A learning disability is a significantly reduced ability to understand new information and learn new skills, which starts before adulthood and has a lasting effect on daily life.
NHS website page on learning disabilities
Mencap has information about learning disabilities for families
Scope is a UK charity for people with disabilities
Tourette syndrome describes the involuntary sounds and movements called tics. Tics usually start in childhood.
NHS website page on Tourette syndrome
Tourettes Action UK is a national charity for families, adults and children
Some children have conditions that are very rare or have no name.
Swan UK is part of Genetic Alliance and is the only dedicated support group for families affected by syndromes without a name
Rare Disease UK charity raises awareness of all rare disease in the UK
Unique is a charity for rare genetic and chromosome disorders
Named conditions:
NHS website page on Angelman syndrome
NHS website page on Rett syndrome
NHS website page on Prader-Willi syndrome
388 of the 394 families in our parent survey told us about their child's diagnosis. (Growing Different Parent Survey 2024)
1 in 5
68 out of 388 (18%) parents of children were either waiting on a diagnosis or undiagnosed.
1 in 2
222 out of 388 (57%) parents said their child had more than one neurodevelopmental diagnosis
4 in 5
329 out of 388 (85%) reported that their child was autistic, the most common diagnosis from our survey
1 in 2
216 out of 388 (56%) reported that their child had ADHD, the second most common diagnosis from our survey
Growing Different Parent Survey 2024 – notes and limitations
394 families of neurodivergent children took part in our online survey. Most children were autistic (about 8 in 10). People chose to take part, so the figures show their experiences, not all children. We did not compare them with any other group, so they can’t show how common something is or what causes it. Some questions had more responses than others.
Please credit ‘Growing Different Parent Survey 2024‘ and read more in our survey insights page
A link is not an endorsement. We are not responsible for the content of external links. If you have any concerns about a child’s mental or physical health, or development, contact your GP or health visitor.
Connecting I Coping I Daily living I Diagnosis I Environment I Health I Learning I Senses I Speech I Strengths
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Information created: June 2026 I Next review: June 2029
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This site gives general information, not medical advice. We share information and resources, but we can’t offer individual or one-to-one support. Always check with a professional before making decisions about your child.
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