Paul G64 wrote:
Hi, My name is Paul
I live in the UK
I am pre diagnosis - but suspect ASD + some ADHD
Already Neurodivergent As have dyslexia
I have been waiting 18 months for an NHS local assessment - and now been told its going be next yr at earliest
but was told of Right to Choose As I had waited so long
Does any one have experience of using this method of getting an assessment - and in particular the providers how do you know they are good at what they do ?
While I would like my and my family suspicions confirmed I would like to know they the company is not just rubber stamping what I believe
I would like there to be a full assessment - as I said some things just don't add up and I think that's where the ADHD comes in I would like that to be assessed within the process
I would appreciate it if you are a UK person and you have some experience of this a reply
Just to get a bit of guidance on this - If you know who or what to avoid ?
to the mod apologies if this is a dup question but I searched and the results were to overwhelming to search
Thanks in advance
Paul
If prefer can PM me don't mind either way
You cannot have adhd diagnosed or even considered for an autism diagnosis, unless you already have adhd diagnosed.
The diagnostic processes for each disorder are done by different specialists.
There is no process I know of that tests for both adhd & autism.
I have both of these conditions and had to be referred to different places and different people separately, to be given a diagnosis of each.
Also, don't worry about being rubber stamped. At the autistic diagnostic place I was diagnosed at in my city, less than 1 in 3 people were diagnosed after a referral, with a majority being told they didn't have autism according to some research I did into the place. The NHS isn't just making money out of diagnoses, and if anything stands to lose money for the care or services of autistic folk, so they have no reason to over-diagnose.
The process normal goes as follows:
Appointment with GP asking for a referral >
referral by GP if autism or adhd is suspected >
interview with a doctor/diagnostician or specialist nurse and assessment procedure >
a collation of evidence is presented to a multidisciplinary team for analysis >
a diagnosis is either given or you will be told you do not meet the criteria, in the opinion of whoever is responsible for the diagnosis.