Asking your GP about ADHD or autism? Start here.

Knowing you want to ask for help is one thing. Finding the words can be harder.

Perhaps you’re unsure what to mention, worried you’ll forget something, or finding it difficult to explain how everyday life is affected. You don’t need a perfect explanation before speaking to your GP.

I’ve created two free resources to help you prepare:

• A practical PDF guide: Choose useful examples, gather a little background and plan what you want to ask. There’s also a printable page for appointment notes.

• An AI email prompt: Use it in your chosen AI assistant to work through simple questions, one at a time. Your answers become a draft email you can check, edit and share with your GP.

You can use these for yourself or as a parent or carer seeking support for a child. If you’d prefer not to use AI, the PDF guide works on its own.

These resources help you explain your experiences and discuss a referral. They don’t diagnose ADHD or autism or guarantee a referral.

Making a difficult first step a little easier

I’m Dr Duncan Couch. As a GP, I know how much someone may have had to work through before they feel ready to ask about an ADHD or autism assessment.

It can be hard to put years of experiences into words, especially when you’re worried about being understood or conscious of the time available in an appointment. If you’re asking on behalf of your child, there can be the added challenge of explaining what you see at home and what your child has shared with you.

I’ve drawn on my experience as a GP to make that preparation easier. The guide helps you decide what to bring to the conversation, and the AI prompt helps you put your concerns into words without starting from a blank page.

My aim is to help you arrive with a clearer account of what’s happening and what you’d like help with. You don’t need to have all the answers before asking for support.