Part of who you are
Autistic differences
- Strong interests and deep focus
- Preferring routine and predictability
- Noticing details others miss
- Needing quiet time to recharge
Private autism clinic · Macclesfield · Online across the UK
Autism.Properly Understood.
For autistic children, adults and families. We look at the sleep, gut, nutrition, sensory and stress factors that affect how you feel, and build a plan that works with how your brain works, not against it.
Always alongside your GP and specialist teams, never instead of them. We don't diagnose autism.
Why we exist
Autism rarely comes on its own
Autism is a lifelong difference in how people experience the world. Many autistic people also live with gut problems, poor sleep, anxiety and sensory overload, and many wait years for an assessment or are never diagnosed at all.
1.2 million
autistic people are estimated to live in England, around twice previous estimates1
750,000
autistic adults aged 20 and over in England may be undiagnosed1
254,000
people in England had an open referral for an autism assessment in December 20252
90%
of them had waited longer than NICE's recommended 13 weeks2
4×
more likely: autistic children have gut symptoms more than four times as often as other children3
1 in 5
autistic people have an anxiety disorder4
Sources: 1. O'Nions et al., The Lancet Regional Health – Europe (2023), UCL. 2. National Autistic Society, analysis of NHS England data (2025). 3. McElhanon et al., Pediatrics (2014). 4. Lai et al., The Lancet Psychiatry (2019).
Know the signs
What's part of autism, and what needs support
Autistic traits are part of who someone is. Pain, poor sleep and constant overwhelm are not, and they are worth looking into.
Worth support
Worth looking into
- Poor sleep, or trouble falling asleep
- Tummy pain, constipation or diarrhoea
- A very limited diet or strong food aversions
- Frequent meltdowns or shutdowns
- Sensory overload getting harder to manage
- Ongoing anxiety or low mood
- Exhaustion from masking
- Low energy or brain fog
Don't wait
Get support promptly
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- Sudden loss of skills or speech
- Stopping eating or drinking
- Unexplained weight loss
- Severe or persistent pain, or new seizures
Thoughts of suicide: call Samaritans free on 116 123, any time, or 999 in an emergency. For other urgent concerns, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Early support
The window for change is early
Many autistic people cope for years, often by masking, until sleep, gut health or anxiety start to slip. The earlier the contributing factors are supported, the easier daily life becomes.
1
Thriving
Needs understood and met
2
Coping
Managing, with a lot of effort or masking
3
Struggling
Sleep, gut or anxiety start to slip
4
Overloaded
More meltdowns, shutdowns or burnout
5
Co-occurring
Diagnosed anxiety, gut or sleep disorders
6
Complex
Several health needs, with specialist teams
Stages 1–4 · The window where early support makes the most difference
Stages 5–6 · Requiring a full work-up with specialist labs and in-depth care, alongside your medical team
Our philosophy
Wellbeing is whole-person
Brain
Sensory processing, stress and emotional regulation: how the autistic nervous system takes in and handles the world.
Body
Gut health, sleep, nutrition and the immune system, which can strongly affect mood, energy and regulation.
Environment
Routine, sound, light, people and demands: the world around someone can make every day easier or much harder.
Brain Based FactorsAffecting Wellbeing
- Sensory sensitivities
- A stress response stuck on high alert
- Anxiety and emotional overwhelm
- Difficulty switching off for sleep
- Autistic burnout
Body Based FactorsAffecting Wellbeing
- Constipation, diarrhoea and tummy pain
- Restricted diets and nutrient gaps
- Gut imbalance and food reactions
- Poor sleep quality
- Low iron, vitamin D or omega-3
Environment Based FactorsAffecting Wellbeing
- Noise, light and busy places
- Unpredictable routines
- Social and school or work demands
- The effort of masking
- Screens late at night
Measure, don't guess
Our Assessment Profiles
Three layers of assessment build a clear picture before anything is recommended.
01
At your Discovery Consultation
Baseline Autism Profile
A 50-question profile of how often autistic traits and related difficulties show up, and how much they affect daily life.
Start here →02
At your Discovery Consultation
Lifestyle & Diet Review
A careful look at sleep, stress, diet, food preferences and the environment at home, school or work.
03
Recommended at your Discovery Consultation
Laboratory Profiles
Targeted tests for the body factors your history points to. They don't diagnose autism; they show what may be affecting wellbeing.
See the lab tests →Your results
Everything comes together in one written plan for sleep, gut health, nutrition and daily regulation, with a baseline to track progress.
Your care journey
What to expect
Online, by secure video, from the calm of your own home. Tell us anything that would make the appointment easier.
Step 1
Autism Discovery Consultation
Most people start here.
- A 50-question baseline autism profile
- How autism shows up day to day
- Sleep, stress, diet and sensory review
- Review of any past blood tests
- Recommendations for useful lab tests
£12060–90 mins
Request Online Consultation
Step 2
Full Consultation
Once your test results are back.
- Your lab results explained in plain terms
- Results matched to symptoms and daily life
- Sleep, gut and nutrition plan
- Targeted nutritional and herbal supplements
- A written plan you can share
Ask usPrice on request
Request Online Consultation
Step 3
Follow-up Consultation
- Progress against your baseline
- What has helped, and what is still hard
- Plan adjustments
- Retesting where useful
- Liaison with your GP and specialists
Ask usPrice on request
Request Online Consultation
Lab test fees are separate and agreed with you before anything is ordered. More about our consultations →
About your practitioner
Alan Lee
Alan is a clinician, educator and researcher in functional medicine and functional neurology, specialising in gut, hormonal and brain-based imbalances.
He supports autistic children, adults and families with the sleep, gut and nutrition problems that so often come with autism, and works alongside GPs and specialist teams.
- Institute of Functional Medicine
- The Kharrazian Institute
- Carrick Institute of Neurological Sciences
- International Association of Functional Neurology and Rehabilitation
- Association of Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine
Not sure where to start?
Start with an Autism Discovery Consultation. It includes a 50-question baseline profile of how autism shows up for you or your child, plus a review of sleep, stress, diet and any past blood tests.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Do you diagnose autism?
No. In the UK, autism is diagnosed by a specialist multidisciplinary team, through the NHS or a recognised private service. We support autistic people and families with the health factors that often come with autism, such as sleep, gut problems, nutrition, anxiety and sensory overload.
Are you trying to cure or change autism?
No. Autism is a lifelong difference in how people experience the world, not something to cure. Our aim is to help autistic people feel well in their bodies, sleep better and cope with daily demands.
Do you see children and adults?
Yes. We see autistic children with their parents or carers, and autistic adults, including people diagnosed later in life.
Does this replace my GP or specialist team?
No. We work alongside them, and with your permission we can share our findings with your GP or specialist.
Can you help while we wait for an assessment?
We can't replace a diagnostic assessment, but we can help with sleep, gut health, nutrition and day-to-day strategies while you wait.
How much does it cost?
The Autism Discovery Consultation is £120 (60–90 minutes). Full and follow-up consultation fees, and any lab tests, are agreed with you before anything is booked or ordered.
Ready to feel more settled?
Find out what is affecting sleep, gut, energy and wellbeing, and what to change first.
Book a Discovery Consultation