Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello. I recently had an NHS assessment for autism, which I didn't think went very well. I was diagnosed with "autistic traits" but I am not very confident in the outcome, because there were so many problems with the assessment. For starters, I felt very rushed; I was told it would take up to 2 hours, but the clinician ended the assessment after 90 minutes. The clinician's phone went off a couple of times. I didn't feel that the clinician took things like high IQ, gender, and compensatory strategies into account. He was also very dismissive of points that I made, although it's hard to capture this in writing. For example, he said that bikes couldn't be my 'special interest' because I only have 3 bikes. He also said that there was 'nothing unusual' about having four pairs of identical shoes and wearing these constantly (for sensory and routine reasons) all year round, even in winter when they aren't appropriate.
I was very upset after the assessment, and have booked in for a private diagnosis in order to get a second opinion. It is incredibly expensive, but having waited so many years for my NHS assessment only to feel really unseen and unheard, I feel like I just want to get an answer that I can trust.
My question is: has anyone had a different outcome at their second assessment? And any tips for ensuring my second assessment is more positive than the first?
I remember reading on the forums here, that there are people who got different results after a second opinion, so it's definitely possible. Since the assessment is based on behavioural observation, there's definitely as possibility of error, or differences in opinion depending on who does the assessment. I actually messed up my answers regarding special interests and obsessions, because I never really thought that much about them (I just thought they were hobbies that many people have, but on later reflection they are more intense than that), so I said I liked lots of stuff, and we kind of ended the topic there. I mainly talked about sensory difficulties and communication/socialising difficulties. Did you also discuss these as well?
Hello qwerty. Thank you for your reply. It is reassuring to know that people sometimes get different results after a second opinion.
My sensory difficulties is one of the biggest reasons I think I might be autistic - and it was covered in less than 3 minutes, while the assessor was trying to wrap up the appointment to get to another meeting. So although I tried to cover this, and had given examples in writing, it wasn't really addressed - in part because the assessor admitted he hadn't read the notes I'd sent in advance.
We did talk much more about socialising difficulties, which I also experience. The assessor attributed this to social anxiety rather than possible autism - which is possible, but I don't think fully explains things either.
You mention that you messed up your answers about special interests and obsessions - did it affect the outcome of your assessment?
Hi Ramona. I do hope you get a more satisfying assessment when you seek a second opinion. I've heard from people on the forums that in general, in private assessments, the assessors take much more time and effort trying to get to know the person and reading carefully the notes sent in advance, since they are paid to do so. It still could be quite variable, but I hope you'll have a better experience the second time. I would encourage you to browse the forums for previous posts, or ask around to see who had a good experience, and maybe you can try to have your assessment in the same centre.I still got the diagnosis, even though I messed up my answers about special interests and obsessions. We probably only talked a couple of minutes on that because of my messed up answers. I agree with what you say about sensory difficulties. And social anxiety wouldn't explain your sensory difficulties. Similar to you, I gave some examples of this in my notes I sent in before the assessment. I think it would be helpful if he had read your notes, or at least spent more time discussing it with you during the assessment.
Thank you qwerty. I already have my private assessment booked in - it was incredibly expensive, but I was offered an assessment on exactly the day I chose (now a couple of weeks away). I asked my chosen assessor a couple of questions before booking in, and was quickly reassured by their response, which was much more thoughtful and nuanced than the other private assessors I contacted. So I'm hopeful that my experience will be more positive.
I'm glad you still got your diagnosis even though you didn't share all you could have done about your special interests and obsessions. It sounds like your assessor was really paying attention to the other things you shared.