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Hovis
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08 Jan 2009, 6:10 pm

I have managed at last to secure an appointment for an assessment with a private clinic specializing in autistic spectrum and developmental disorders. My GP has been very helpful - although he doesn't personally have the knowledge or qualifications to say whether I have an ASD or not, he has seen me regularly for a long time and agrees that there seems to be a problem there that goes beyond what can be corrected with medication or therapy. He initially made a referral for me to a specialist on the NHS, which would have been free, but that diagnostician screened me out after deciding I didn't 'tick enough boxes' on a questionnaire he sent and refused to see me in person. After I contacted the private clinic, though, they asked for a GP referral in order to offer me an appointment, and he was quite amenable to writing a second letter. Now they've contacted me to say they will see me next month.

What should I expect to happen and to be asked during the initial assessment (which will cost me around £400)? I've been trying to make a list of anything that comes to mind about problems I have, things that I've been told or have noticed are odd or different about myself - anything that might assist the doctor that I see.

Another question is whether or not I should discuss my own research on autism and AS, and similarities I've seen between myself and the descriptions people diagnosed with an ASD have given. I would have assumed that it would be helpful, but I've been told that doctors don't like you self-diagnosing.



Padium
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08 Jan 2009, 7:19 pm

To be honest I don't remember a thing about my diagnosis, all I know is that it happened. You will probably be asked some questions, just answer honestly.



garyww
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08 Jan 2009, 7:20 pm

Just talk about everything. This isn't a test.


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Hovis
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09 Jan 2009, 5:14 am

Padium wrote:
To be honest I don't remember a thing about my diagnosis, all I know is that it happened. You will probably be asked some questions, just answer honestly.


I don't think I could do anything else. The last thing I want to do is manipulate or mislead the doctor in any way and receive a possibly false diagnosis. If I don't have AS, I want to be told this too, and find out what the problem is.