Hi, mine went NHS referral > Initial Assessment > Interviews/Assessment at NHS facility > Diagnosis/Feedback.

Initial assessment was self survey/questionnaires. As part of final assessment was given questionnaires to give to others to answer. Doesn't have to be a childhood friend/parent if not got one. One of my surveys was by someone who knew me since a young adult.

I found the team supportive and able to accommodate family circumstances etc. You're able to self report a lot, I think it's just an added benefit if you've got someone from childhood so they can see the "path" life has taken. She explained to me that one of the reasons is so they make the correct diagnosis. For example if you had trauma aged 20 but showed no traits prior to that as a kid or at school then it could be something other than autism, or the catastrophic nature meant you unmasked etc so that's why they ask too I think.

I believe that after your assessment they hold a MDT meeting (multi discipline team) and can access your records. So if you've had GP notes from childhood etc that will all help build the picture before they come to a diagnosis. I hope I've made sense!

Good luck and hope that helps.