About Anne Marie
Anne Marie Gallagher BSc, RCSLT, ASILTIP
Hello, I’m Anne Marie Gallagher.
I’m a qualified Consultant Speech and Language Therapist with over 25 years of experience in adult autism assessments and diagnosis.
My career in the NHS included working across adult autism, mental health, and learning disability services. I also co-authored SIGN 45, the national clinical guidelines for autism assessment, diagnosis, and intervention and worked with the Scottish government at a national level to help improve autism services and diagnostic practice.
I have extensive experience assessing adults whose autism may have gone unrecognised for many years especially women and people who mask.
I was also a Scottish trainer in DISCO (Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders) and have trained hundred of health care professionals, including clinical psychologists and psychiatrists) in recognising and diagnosing autism.
Now in private practice, I continue this work with a deep passion for helping autistic adults better understand their unique thinking styles and how they experience the world. I recognise the significant impact that a late diagnosis can have—and I’m here to support those ready to take that important step.
If you or someone you know may be autistic, I warmly invite you to get in touch with an informal chat to explore the possibility of an assessment.
Screening for ADHD is also included as part of the autism diagnostic process, based on my NHS experience working in teams that supported adults with both conditions.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about my background or services offered here at Connect to Autism.
My Experience
Anne Marie was a member of the expert group who wrote the SIGN 145 guidelines, the national clinical guidelines for the assessment, diagnosis, and intervention for autism spectrum disorders.
She has trained and certified over 150 clinicians across NHS Scotland in the use of DISCO (Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders), one of the leading tools for adult autism diagnosis.
She is also a tutor for The University of South Wales Masters programme on Neurodiversity.
As a consultant to several NHS boards, Anne Marie has conducted joint diagnostic assessments alongside local clinicians. This approach not only ensures accessible, locally delivered assessments but also supports hands-on learning—helping to build the skills and confidence of local teams to better support autistic adults.