diagnosis in Ireland?

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Whats the process like for adults and how does one get it started? Also, whats the waiting list like, because im reading different things about it like 'two year waiting list' according to one source but according to another people have waited up to a decade for it. Secondly, will it involve any sort of physical exam to rule out other stuff or anything like that, cos if it does I think il do without, theres only one person with whom im comfortable with physical contact although I put up with it from most people anyway. I still want to do normal things like get married(not that theres plans right now, or even a guy) and all that, am I forsaking this if I go for an assessment and turn out to be definately on the spectrum? Im asking that previous question because ive heard some horror stories about social services attitude towards autistic adults in the uk mostly, but it could be the same in ireland? I still want to maintain the same level of independance, or higher. One of my main reasons for thinking about going for an assesment is that il probably need it for college, considering I barely got through secondary school as it is and anybody ive mentioned this to has thought its a major possibility that im on the spectrum, the only exception has been my Dad who seems to come up with every excuse imaginable. Is there any way of avoiding the hospital setting and psychiatrists in looking for an assessment? Alot of those listed on a website I found seem to work from hospitals psychiatric departments and im really not keen on that. If I really have to go to my gp first, how do I convince her..on my own? Lastly, where do I find someone experienced in diagnosing adults in particular?

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Not sure. I'm in the north and it's taking ages. Get some advice of the autistic society on how to go about it.

I'm going for my first appointment with a psychiatrist next Monday. I found a list of people experienced in diagnosing AS on this website. http://www.aspire-irl.org/diagnosis.htm.

I don't know how reliable the list is. I searched the forums here for ASPIRE and came across a negative post by an Irish member. But I've made an appointment with one of them anyway.

Apparently, you can go public or go private. If you go public, you have to start off with a GP and get a referral letter for a public psychiatrist. I don't know how long the waiting list is for a public psychiatrist, but I can't imagine it's great these days.

If you decide to go private, a diagnosis is €400. Apparently, some of this can be claimed back on VHI, but I don't know how much. €400 is very expensive, but the psychiatrist I picked is supposed to be one of Ireland's best. I would prefer to spend the money than wreck my head trying to figure out how to fill out forms, or deal with GPs or hospitals.

That's all I know about the process so far, but I think if you call one of the phone numbers and talk to them, they'll be very helpful. My guy was. I could barely string a coherent sentence together on the phone, but he was very understanding and answered all my silly questions. I'll let you know more next week

Honestly, I've found there really isn't much available in Ireland.
I'm studying at Queen's and I haven't found so much as a support group.

However, I have run across this a couple times and it might be worth looking in to:

Name: The Spectrum Diagnostic, Assessment & Therapy Centre
Address: The School of Psychology
The Queen's University Belfast
1089a David Keir Building
18 - 30 Malone Road
Belfast, BT9 5BP
Postcode:
Country: Ireland
Telephone: 028 90 274 547
Fax:
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.thespectrumcentre.com

The website doesn't work, and I don't know if they even exist (you think I'd have heard if they did) but you could try calling.

This might be useful as well:
http://www.autismconnect.org/maps.asp?s ... 0400040028

You'll find many support groups on the ASPIRE website. I'm not surer if this covers the north, but it's worth checking out.

http://www.aspire-irl.org/support.htm

Thanks.
I have a medical card but will probably go private anyway..since im not doing much at the moment I could probably save the 400 in a month or so if I try, ive discovered that I can be pretty good at getting by on little and im living at home right now anyway.

I still dont really know if I should definately go for this though. My family who havnt a clue about this all keep saying things like "oh everyone does that, lots of people are like that as kids, thats totally normal, you're just introverted" etc, whereas my two friends both of whom I grew up with and both of whom are very familiar with it because their profession means they have to be have both said they think its strongly possible that im on the spectrum. I have never managed to get a job, most conversations I have finnish with 'hi', my entire life revolves around music and my faith, I have two friends in total right now, ive done the leaving cert three times and still not even met basic matriculation requirements for any college in ireland despite the fact that I started reading well before my peers did as a kid.

Im really confused right now!

The Leaving cert is horrible. I don't think I could have done it if I wasn't smoking so much weed. But then if I wasn't smoking so much, I might have done better

If you can afford to spend the money then make an appointment with someone on the list. Take some time to yourself and have a good think about what your symptoms are. Write them all down and have the list beside you when you make the phonecall. Discuss it with the Psychiatrist and ask him what he thinks.

Even if you're not on the spectrum, the Psychiatrist should have some idea about what's bothering you. All you have to lose is €400. That's not a lot of money to risk when you think about how much difference it could make to your life.

Go for it. You can stress about college and all that crap later.