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GP visit requesting referral

Redstar

Hi,

This week visited my GP to request a referral for formal diagnosis of my strongly self-suspected ASD.

I consider myself to be very high functioning, but this has come from self-learned behavioral changes and learning from others by observation. I have felt I could be autistic for a couple of years now, having always felt different in many ways. I think I would have been happy to remain self-diagnosed, but I see possible advantages in a formal diagnosis as it will be more likely to be accepted by my family.

The GP did not seem highly interested, although the GP asked a question or two about symptoms and asked if I'd taken any 'tests'. I verbally gave a couple of symptoms and the difficulties I have, then handed over a list of 20 or so symptoms and examples I prepared. They quickly looked through and said "leave it with me and I'll see what I can do about a referral".

I'm not quite sure what to expect now. I don't feel the GP has a specialism or over familiarisation with autism, which is fair enough. I am not really anxious about what comes next, rather curious. I've read up about what can happen on this website and elsewhere. I am in my 30s, so I think the GP may also have been even more unfamiliar with ASD in adults.

I feel a formal diagnosis is all that I am seeking really. I am hoping it will provide some relief in final confirmation of what I have felt for some time, and also maybe it will provide some explanations to my family over how I was quite a difficult child in many ways! ASD is not understood in my family, and we have family members who I certainly feel have it, but this is generally met by skepticism when I suggest it.

One thing I did do before visiting the GP was get some of my old school reports from age 5-6 and I was slightly surprised how suggesting it was that there could be an interaction issue - and that an ASD diagnosis didn't come about during my earlier years. School was not easy for me, but compared to what many people have gone through I feel I have not had it too bad.

That's my little story anyway, wishing you all the best!

Parents

  • Hi,

    Just to give an update on this. The GP made a referral and last week I spoke to a mental health nurse over the phone. She did a quick online test and is putting me forward for an ASD assessment. Very nice lady to speak to. She said there was a very long waiting list but just happy to be in the system and perhaps my criticism of the GP was unjustified.

  • in reply to Redstar

    As a GP myself I fully understand the situation. The diagnosis will vary very much on who undertakes it, takes time, expert assessors few in NHS, so somewhat costly, long wait and may not be helpful for many, but is eventually available, but GPs referrals are monitored and they will get in trouble if spending too much on dubious referrals!

    For myself I was told by the lead doctor for ASD in the county that the fact I know the tests well and am a doctor, that the tests would be imposssible to interpret reliably, so no point in having them. However he did agree I have ASD and this explains a lot in my life.

    It is good to know for your own self management, but having a formal diagnosis as an adult is debateable and rarely necessary for anything formal. It could actually work against you for life insurance .https://www.goodfinancialcents.com/life-insurance-autism-or-aspergers/ and you could be refused or policy loaded. So there are some negatives. Going to your local community ASD group is a good idea and talking on here

Reply
  • in reply to Redstar

    As a GP myself I fully understand the situation. The diagnosis will vary very much on who undertakes it, takes time, expert assessors few in NHS, so somewhat costly, long wait and may not be helpful for many, but is eventually available, but GPs referrals are monitored and they will get in trouble if spending too much on dubious referrals!

    For myself I was told by the lead doctor for ASD in the county that the fact I know the tests well and am a doctor, that the tests would be imposssible to interpret reliably, so no point in having them. However he did agree I have ASD and this explains a lot in my life.

    It is good to know for your own self management, but having a formal diagnosis as an adult is debateable and rarely necessary for anything formal. It could actually work against you for life insurance .https://www.goodfinancialcents.com/life-insurance-autism-or-aspergers/ and you could be refused or policy loaded. So there are some negatives. Going to your local community ASD group is a good idea and talking on here

Children
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