Sheffield Autism and Neurodevelopmental Service assessment

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raspberrypink
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21 Mar 2016, 7:28 pm

I have an autism assessment booked for Thursday. Can anyone with experience with this service tell me what I can expect? I am an adult female who has had the idea that I am autistic dismissed in the past and I am concerned that this will happen again...



QuillAlba
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21 Mar 2016, 7:33 pm

As much evidence as you can gather.
A parent or sibling to provide another viewpoint.
Carry lots of hope.

Good luck



raspberrypink
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21 Mar 2016, 7:37 pm

I'd rather not go with my mum tbh as I want to tell the psychologist personal stuff that I wouldn't feel comfortable saying in front of her. Also I don't think my mum gives a particularly good account of my difficulties. She's one of those parents who sees the absolute best in their child and doesn't want to see anything 'wrong'. I got her to fill in the pre-assessment questionnaire but she didn't do a very good job as she doesn't remember my childhood well. :roll: But neither do I. :)



raspberrypink
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21 Mar 2016, 7:42 pm

Btw I don't know whether to make a point of presenting myself in a respectable manner or not?? I feel like if I do then the psychologist will have less of a good idea of how I present in social situations than she would if I behaved naturally... But if I don't try to be normal will I be giving them the wrong idea, since I could seem more normal if I wanted? 8O



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21 Mar 2016, 7:45 pm

I was fortunate enough that my mother remembered many things and was supportive.
It's not that important, just do your best to answer their questions and not answer to please them. I am unsure how prevalent this is in other autistic folks, but I have a desire to please people while lacking the social abilities to actually know what pleases and what does not.
I wish I had some answers for you, but the best I can offer is to be yourself and just let it all out, it's probably the only time we can ever just be us.



QuillAlba
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21 Mar 2016, 7:47 pm

raspberrypink wrote:
Btw I don't know whether to make a point of presenting myself in a respectable manner or not?? I feel like if I do then the psychologist will have less of a good idea of how I present in social situations than she would if I behaved naturally... But if I don't try to be normal will I be giving them the wrong idea, since I could seem more normal if I wanted? 8O



I'd let them have it with both barrels.

Pretending you are doing okay or that you are coping will not help here, full honestly is the best approach.
I know how horrible that is, I went through it last year, it's embarrassing and not something you will ever look back on fondly, it's best out of the way though.



raspberrypink
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21 Mar 2016, 7:50 pm

QuillAlba wrote:
raspberrypink wrote:
Btw I don't know whether to make a point of presenting myself in a respectable manner or not?? I feel like if I do then the psychologist will have less of a good idea of how I present in social situations than she would if I behaved naturally... But if I don't try to be normal will I be giving them the wrong idea, since I could seem more normal if I wanted? 8O



I'd let them have it with both barrels.

Pretending you are doing okay or that you are coping will not help here, full honestly is the best approach.
I know how horrible that is, I went through it last year, it's embarrassing and not something you will ever look back on fondly, it's best out of the way though.


I was just thinking about how lately I've been carrying a little soft toy around with me at college and when walking around town. I could put him away if I wanted but I like to have him with me all the time. :mrgreen:



QuillAlba
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21 Mar 2016, 7:54 pm

There is a lassie on here whose avatar is her clutching her sonic stuffed toy, she's a grown woman who loves sonic and loves her soft toy, and she is brilliant. You are not weird or out of place here.

What is the soft toy?
What is it's name?



raspberrypink
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21 Mar 2016, 7:57 pm

QuillAlba wrote:
There is a lassie on here whose avatar is her clutching her sonic stuffed toy, she's a grown woman who loves sonic and loves her soft toy, and she is brilliant. You are not weird or out of place here.

What is the soft toy?
What is it's name?


Image

He looks like this. He doesn't have a name. :P



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21 Mar 2016, 8:00 pm

It's a punk unicorn cat.

I've never seen one in the wild before, thank you for sharing the picture.

Never feel bad here for having a soft toy, or a strange thought or even a weird feeling about something,

I'd call him Syd.



danum
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22 Mar 2016, 2:07 am

Hello Raspberry. I was diagnosed at Sheffield six years ago and found the whole process to be very positive. It started with me filling in a long questionnaire a week or so before my appointment, then a half day assessment, resulting in a twenty page diagnostic report and then a follow-up discussion.

Unfortunately I never received the help and support that my diagnostic report stated that I needed. The woman who I saw was very good; she didn't just ask me about the medical aspects, but also about my social life and ways of thinking so that she could come up with a detailed strategy.

Good look with your appointment today...there's no need to be worried about anything...and do tell the doctor everything you can think of, don't hold anything back.


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raspberrypink
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22 Mar 2016, 8:51 am

danum wrote:
Hello Raspberry. I was diagnosed at Sheffield six years ago and found the whole process to be very positive. It started with me filling in a long questionnaire a week or so before my appointment, then a half day assessment, resulting in a twenty page diagnostic report and then a follow-up discussion.

Unfortunately I never received the help and support that my diagnostic report stated that I needed. The woman who I saw was very good; she didn't just ask me about the medical aspects, but also about my social life and ways of thinking so that she could come up with a detailed strategy.

Good look with your appointment today...there's no need to be worried about anything...and do tell the doctor everything you can think of, don't hold anything back.


Twenty pages! Thanks for the feedback. :)



raspberrypink
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25 Mar 2016, 12:05 am

Update: had my appointment. Talked from about 1 til 4pm I think? And we ran out of time so I have to go back in a couple of weeks and hopefully after talking a few more hours will get the verdict. 8O 8O 8O