What is autism?
Having autism means that your brain works a little differently from others. It does not mean that you have an illness or a disease. Autism symptoms may include finding it hard to communicate and interact with people in one form or another. You may struggle to understand how others think or feel, experience sensory overload and get anxious in certain social situations. Information that may be understood quickly and simply by others can seem difficult to comprehend for somebody with autism. Additionally, it's plausible that you might do or think the same things over and over.
It is important to stress that being autistic doesn't have to impact a person's quality of life, and that there are varying degrees to which people might experience autism symptoms, known as the autism spectrum. Some will require little or no support, whereas others need help from a parent or carer every day.
Many authistic people will have intense, highly focused interests, often becoming experts in their chosen passion and taking great pleasure in pursuing them. Take the example of Greta Thunberg, whose own intense interest is promoting environmental protection.
Getting an autism diagnosis is an essential first step to understanding yours or your child's behaviour characteristics and to access any support you or they may need in order to live a full life. Owing to this condition's complex nature, there is a high level of autism misdiagnosis in adults in the UK. If you have suffered as the result of a medical misdiagnosis, you may be able to make a no win no fee claim.
Is there a cause for autism?
Whilst nobody knows what definitively causes it, doctors and autism experts know what doesn't cause the autism condition. It is not caused by bad parenting, vaccines such as the MMR vaccine, a poor diet or an infection. Research suggests that autism develops as a result of genetic, non-genetic and environmental influences. Whilst influences can increase the risk that a child may develop autism, it's important to note that this increased risk is not the same as cause. Gene changes associated with autism may also be found in people who don't have the condition. In fact, most people exposed to an environmental factor associated with autism will not develop autism symptoms.
Autism does tend to run in families, with certain gene changes increasing the risk that a child may develop the autism condition. Even if a parent does not have autism, one or more of these gene changes may be passed to a child, increasing the risk of autism developing. However, the majority of these gene changes do not cause autism on their own - they merely increase the risk.
Environmental risk factors may increase as well as reduce the risk of autism developing. Importantly, the increase in risk does appear to be small for any of the following:
- Advanced parent age
- Pregnancy or birth complications
- Separate pregnancies that are quite close together (less than a year).
Taking vitamins such as folic acid during pregnancy can reduce the risk of autism developing, however once again it is a small reduction.
How can autism be misdiagnosed?
It is estimated that between 1-2% of the UK population has autism to some degree. This translates to around 100,000 children and 1,000,000 adults. Despite this figure, there is no national register or exact count of how many people actually have the condition. Autism misdiagnosis is a common occurrence, owing to the condition's complex nature. Widespread unfamiliarity with the symptoms of autism, especially in cases where they were never evaluated during childhood, is a leading cause of autism misdiagnosis.
Autism shares many traits with other conditions such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), schizophrenia (more common in adults), eating or anxiety disorders, with health professionals sometimes mistaking the signs of autism for one of these instead. There is no recognised medical test to diagnose autism making an accurate diagnosis even more challenging. Misdiagnosis of autism in this way can be dangerous, as it may mean you or your child are prescribed the wrong medication.
Women and girls are more at risk of autism misdiagnosis, with misconceptions surrounding its nature as a largely male-oriented condition meaning it is sometimes missed in females. Evidence suggests that as many as 1 in 3 cases are going undiagnosed. Many studies, up until now, have often overlooked females to focus on males, meaning that doctors, teachers and parents may miss many cases. This can lead to girls not getting the required support, leading to depression, eating disorders and self-harm.
The overdiagnosis of autism can also prove troublesome, meaning individuals are treated for something that they don't have, placing them in unnecessary situations which can be stressful.
If you, a child or loved one has suffered as a result of a missed or incorrect autism diagnosis, then we are here to help and support you. You may even be entitled to make a claim against those responsible. Give us a call on for free, friendly and impartial advice. We can help you get the compensation to make things right.
The impact of autism misdiagnosis
The misdiagnosis of autism can have an impact on the individual as well as those around them. Mistaking autism for a condition with similar symptoms, for example obsessive compulsive or anxiety disorders, can mean that the wrong medication is prescribed. This is troublesome as the individual may suffer adverse side effects whilst the symptoms of autism continue and perhaps get worse.
Conversely, an incorrect diagnosis of autism when another condition should have instead been picked up could mean individuals are treated for something they don't have and are placed into situations which can be stressful, potentially expensive and a waste of time.
If autism is missed then the individuals and their families won't get the support required and could develop other conditions including depression and the tendency to self-harm.
Families of those with an autism misdiagnosis may struggle with the emotional and physical burdens of supporting a loved one with a condition that has not been understood or acknowledged. This can lead to problems in their own lives which can be exacerbated by having constant battles with health professionals, both from a mental and monetary perspective.
Children with autism may require a degree of support at school. Not providing a diagnosis of autism could mean affected children not getting that support, falling behind in their development and being ostracised from friendship groups. This could mean increased time and money spent catching up at a later date.
The reassuring news is that you may be able to make a no win no fee autism claim for yourself, or on behalf of a child or loved one. Our specialist solicitors can help you get the compensation you need to reimburse lost earnings as a result of time taken off work to care either for yourself or a loved one, for medical bills, education support or the services of a carer. Our advice and support is friendly, thorough and you won't pay a penny unless you successfully complete a claim. Give us a call for free today on or request a call back at a time that suits you for advice and legal support provided by autism experts.
When might I have a case for autism compensation?
When might I have a case for autism compensation?
If you have been the victim of preventable mental or physical distress due to autism misdiagnosis, you might have a case for claiming compensation. Medical negligence claims are valid if you have suffered and another party is at fault. Medical staff have a duty of care to patients and if you have presented either yourself, a child or a loved one for diagnosis and it has been missed, then you have grounds to make a claim for breaching that duty. A false autism diagnosis that may have resulted in you having to pay for unnecessary support or medication could help make a successful case for claiming compensation.
To talk in confidence, give us a call today on . Our friendly advisors will listen to your story, take notes of what has happened and be able to tell you if you have a case. Our advice is free, and you'll be under no pressure to start a claim should you not want to.
How to claim compensation for autism
We have spent over 28 years helping sufferers of mental and physical harm that wasn't their fault get the compensation they are entitled to. Making a claim for autism misdiagnosis is straightforward and stress-free with us. We cut the legal jargon and put you in touch with the right solicitor for your unique circumstances.
When you feel ready, simply give us a call for free on . Alternatively, you can fill in an online form and one of the team will call you back within 30 minutes (during normal working hours). It may help you to use our simple compensation calculator before speaking to us, as this can help you understand how much compensation we can claim for on your behalf.
Your autism misdiagnosis claim will be handled under a no win no fee arrangement, also known as a conditional free agreement. This means there are no upfront costs or hidden charges but if you win your claim, you'll be asked to pay any costs and expenses, not paid for by the other side, out of your compensation. And if, in the unlikely event of your case not being successful, you won't pay a penny. These costs will be agreed with your solicitor before going ahead with the claim process on your behalf. They may include:
- A ‘success fee' that compensates the solicitor for the risk they take, as if your claim is unsuccessful they won't be paid at all.
- Any other legal costs or expenses not recovered from the other side, such as the costs of any legal expense insurance.
Call us on today to start your autism misdiagnosis claim.
Meet the team
Is there any support for a misdiagnosis of autism?
Is there any support for a misdiagnosis of autism?
We know how draining any misdiagnosis can be on both you and your family. And whilst we are here to offer free legal support and advice, not to mention the possibility to claim compensation for your autism misdiagnosis, there are organisations dedicated to supporting autism sufferers with managing the condition. The National Autistic Society will be able to help connect you with a like minded community for mental health, education and transition support.
If you disagree with an autism misdiagnosis, you can ask your GP to refer you for a second opinion. You cou seek a private diagnosis, however some local authorities only recognise NHS assessments. And if you are still struggling to access the answers that you are looking for then give us a call on to find out if you could claim compensation.
Would I be claiming against the NHS?
Would I be claiming against the NHS?
We know that the NHS is a cherished service for so many people in this country, meaning that some are reluctant to start a claim against an organisation that is publicly funded. We must stress that any money you are awarded as a result of a successful autism misdiagnosis claim will notcome out of the NHS' budget. There is no need to worry that your claim will affect anyone else's standards of healthcare. Claims against the NHS are handled by the NHS Resolution organisation, a specialist insurer to the health service. Every NHS trust in the country pays an annual premium to NHS Resolution, ensuring money is available to resolve any negligence claims against the NHS, of which there were around 12,600 in 2020/2021.
For free advice on making a claim for autism misdiagnosis on the part of the NHS, you can reach out to organisations such as Action against Medical Accidents. And remember, our trained team is always at the end of the phone to provide free guidance on making a claim.
How much compensation can I claim for a misdiagnosis of autism?
How much compensation can I claim for a misdiagnosis of autism?
With over years_since years in the business of helping people claim compensation for their misdiagnosis ordeals, we can predict how much you could claim. We have created an online claims calculator which, with a few simple questions, will give an indication of the amount you could receive. The answers you provide will help us understand your situation, the impact your autism misdiagnosis has had on you, your family and your earnings.
The exact figure that your specialist solicitor will claim for on your behalf will vary from case to case, depending on the severity of your condition, the impact it has had on you and how much the defendant wants to negotiate the figure.
Your solicitor will take into account elements such as the time taken off work and lost income, impact on future earnings, psychological damage, any care received or needed, medical bills, plus the overall pain and suffering that has occured as a result of an autism misdiagnosis. If you are claiming on behalf of your child then your solicitor will assess the impact that the misdiagnosis has had on their education and mental wellbeing.
Compensation guidelines in this country are set by the Judicial College and vary to a large degree. For example, the compensation range for post-traumatic stress disorder claims can vary from £3,710 to £56,180. Compensation paid for the sufferings of a child will be released to them when they turn 18. If required for medical or educational purposes before that happens then funds can be released from those held by the court on request.
Speak to us today on to get free advice on how much you could be entitled to claim.
Compensation Calculator
Compensation Calculator
We’ll calculate your compensation in a few minutes.
How misdiagnosis compensation can help
Whilst getting an autism diagnosis correctly, at the right time, is the first priority, getting compensation for a misdiagnosis can help in lots of different ways. You may have incurred personal expenses as a result of time taken off work to care either for your child or yourself. Compensation for an autism misdiagnosis can help pay for private lessons to help your child get their education and development back on track, pay for a carer whilst you are at work or be put towards regular therapy sessions. Compensation can help pay for any prescriptions you or your child may require to manage any autism symptoms.
Find out more about why you should make a compensation claim and then read and listen to our customer's stories on how the money they received helped them get peace of mind after stressful ordeals.
Katies Story
When Katie's appendix burst and went unnoticed, both she and her mum feared long-term consequences. Katie's Mum contacted us for help.
Read more customer storiesHow long will my autism compensation claim take?
How long will my autism compensation claim take?
No two cases are the same. It is therefore very difficult for us to tell you precisely how long it can take for the entire claims process from start to finish. The time it takes to complete individual autism claims will depend on the seriousness of your condition, how the misdiagnosis impacted upon your life, earnings or child's education, how much evidence your solicitor needs to gather to make a case, who you're claiming against (NHS, individual GP or private healthcare provider) and whether the defendants access or denies liability.
Our specialist autism solicitors understand that time is of the essence so will do all we can to keep the process moving along as quickly as possible. They'll keep you updated at every step of the way.
If the other party accepts responsibility for your misdiagnosis then your claim can progress fairly quickly. If on the other hand they deny responsibility, then your solicitor will need to gather evidence to provide that they were at fault.
Once your claim does settle, compensation will be paid to you within 2 weeks to a month. And if the money is destined for a misdiagnosed child, the money will be held by the court with nominal amounts being released to their parent or legal guardian for any special education required. The remaining money will be released once the child turns 18.
If you are worried about your case taking a long time to complete and struggling to keep up with the costs of treating your misdiagnosis, then you may be able to receive interim payments of compensation. These can be arranged with your solicitor and are paid ahead of the settlement of your claim and will cover immediate costs such as therapy, education and care.
Give us a call today on and a member of our trained team will be able to give you an indication of whether you have an autism misdiagnosis claim, based on the evidence you provide. Alternatively, fill in our online form and we'll get back to you within half an hour during normal working hours.
Can I claim on behalf of my child?
Can I claim on behalf of my child?
Yes, you can. If the person on the receiving end of the autism misdiagnosis is under 18, you'll need to claim on their behalf. You can also claim on behalf of a loved one over the age of 18 if they are unable to make the claim themselves. In either case, whilst not essential, it would be helpful to speak to the person you are claiming on behalf of just to ensure that they are happy for you to be speaking to us. Give us a call on to find out more about claiming for an autism misdiagnosis on behalf of your child or a loved one.
Can I make a no win no fee autism compensation claim?
Can I make a no win no fee autism compensation claim?
To find out if you can make a no win no fee autism compensation claim with us, give us a call on . Our friendly and trained experts can give you free impartial advice and let you know if you can make a no win no fee claim. Alternatively, fill out our secure online form to request a call back. It really is that simple.
No win no fee means exactly that - you won't pay a penny unless your claim is successful. It is a risk-free way of getting the compensation you deserve to get your life back on track after an autism misdiagnosis.
If you have suffered mental or physical trauma as a result of a misdiagnosis that was not your fault, it is highly likely that we will be able to help you make a claim for compensation. Get in touch today to find out more.
Is there a time limit on making an autism misdiagnosis claim?
Is there a time limit on making an autism misdiagnosis claim?
You can start your autism misdiagnosis compensation claim as soon after the misdiagnosis as you like. It is always better to reach out to us at the earliest opportunity, as this will allow us to better gather the clearest evidence required to make your claim a success.
Under UK law, you will usually have a three year time limit from the ‘date of discovery'. This means from the trigger event itself or from the diagnosis of the harm it caused, whichever came first. A parent, family member, guardian or specially appointed official can claim on behalf of a child at any time up until they reach the age of 18. This is what's known as a litigation friend.
If the child reaches their 18th birthday with no autism claim made on their behalf, they will then have three years (until their 21st birthday) to make one themselves.
And if the victim is physically or mentally unable to make a claim themselves because of the autism misdiagnosis, then there are no time limits on when they are able to claim. In this scenario, any claim will require the assistance of a litigation friend.
Our dedicated and supportive team will be able to offer detailed information on the time limitations based on your personal circumstances. So give us a call for free to find out if you are within the legally required time limits for making an autism misdiagnosis claim.
How do I start my autism claim?
How do I start my autism claim?
We have helped over two million people injured through negligence get the compensation they deserve, so you can rest assured that you are in good hands.
The first thing to do is to get in contact with us by phone or by using our online claims tool. A member of our friendly team will tell you quickly if you have the grounds to start a claim. Should you choose to go ahead we will appoint a specialist medical negligence solicitor. They will handle your claim and all legal aspects relating to negotiation with the other party. All that's left for you to do is to provide them with as much information and evidence as possible when asked, to help support your autism misdiagnosis claim.
Why should I choose National Accident Helpline?
As the UK's leading provider of personal injury advice, services and support, we have helped over two million people get compensation for their struggles. Rated as Excellent by the reviews site Trustpilot, with over 20,000 reviews, you can be sure that you're in safe hands when making an autism claim with us. We've been helping people like you for over years_since years so if we say you have a claim, it is highly likely that we will be successful in getting you paid.
By operating on a no win no fee basis, we can offer a risk-free way to hold those responsible for your pain and suffering to account. Because unless your claim is successful, you won't pay a penny.
Our UK-wide network of high quality legal minds ensures that we can partner you with a solicitor well versed and experienced in your individual circumstances. Rest assured, we will approach your case armed with all of the knowledge required to succeed.
So, give us a call today for free, to hear a friendly and trained voice at the other end of the phone. They'll quickly put your mind at ease and help you start your autism misdiagnosis claim.
Editable block title (hide option available)
Frequently asked questions...
Your solicitor does the majority of the work throughout your claim, including contacting the responsible party and negotiating on your behalf. This leaves you with the time to focus on your recovery.
However, there are a couple of things you can do to help with your case. Your solicitor may need evidence of your accident, such as photographs or witness names. We realise that it can be difficult to gather this information, but having it before you start your claim could help to make the process simpler.
They will also invite you to take part in a free medical assessment. This is nothing to worry about and usually only takes around 20 minutes. The findings from your assessment will be used to support your compensation claim and can also help you to understand how your recovery is going.
Read more about our free medical assessments.
All of our solicitors work on a no win no fee basis, which means they agree that if your case is unsuccessful then you won't be charged a penny.
Quite simply, it's no win, no fee, no risk, which means you can make a compensation claim without the worry of being left with a bill you can't afford.
Yes, your GP has a duty of care to you. If they've failed to uphold this and you have been affected as a result, we can help you make it right. Read more about claiming for GP negligence here.