Brain in Hand reveals a staggering 5,000 searches per month for ‘private autism assessment’
Searches for ‘private assessment for ADHD’ have also surged by over 900% in the past three months
There has been a staggering 900% increase in searches related to private autism and ADHD assessment in the last three months, with Google searches peaking at 100 per day, shedding light on the pressing need to improve access and efficiency in assessment services. That’s according to Brain in Hand, the digital innovation healthcare company urgently calling for transformative change in order to address the growing backlog of autism assessments.
Recent data collected by Brain in Hand highlights the escalating demand and the challenges faced by autistic individuals in obtaining timely assessments, with many having to wait longer than two years for an official assessment and diagnosis.* This is even more pressing as some local health and care partnerships are removing access to autism and ADHD assessment for adults due to the lack of resources. People are looking online for support and guidance with search terms such as ‘high functioning autism’ and ‘stimming’ growing by over 5000% during the past three months.
A Broken System
In addition to the current backlog – which is predicted to reach 190,000 by 2024 – the increased reliance on private assessments is a symptom of a broken system. Brain in Hand acknowledges the urgency of transforming how people access services and how those services are delivered.
To shine a light on autistic voices within the community, Brain in Hand partnered with the Autism Shows, the national event for autism, which took place across the country and provided a platform for autistic people to share their lived experiences and challenges in accessing support.
“It’s impossible to hear so many stories about people’s lives and not feel incredibly motivated to try to make things better. Our mission is to improve autism support and improve the lives of autistic individuals and those living with neurological differences or mental health difficulties,” said Dr Louise Morpeth, CEO at Brain in Hand. “Record wait times for diagnosis and the soaring demand for private assessments underscore the need for immediate action. We believe that a transformative change is essential to revolutionise access to services, and digital solutions like Brain in Hand can play a crucial role in changing the way that support is accessed, in turn, helping to ensure better outcomes.”
