• Replies 5 replies
  • Subscribers 82 subscribers
  • Views 2157 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

What happens at an adult assessment at the Lorna Wing Centre?

silversleeper

Hi all,

I've just received confirmation that I have been approved for a diagnostic consultation at the Lorna Wing Centre and am being put on the waiting list (can take 3 months). I am a 40 year old female.

The email advises that the consultation takes half a day.

Has anyone on here had an adult assessment at Lorna Wing, and if so, are you able to shine a light on the format - e.g. are there cognitive tests, or just interviews? I have a family member coming with me to give an overview of child development.

  • As others have said the best thing is just to not worry, had an assessment at 30 (just under a year ago) and was worried as hell before it as I've always been a big over-thinker, as in before going getting into a loop of "am I actually autistic or am I just looking for an excuse for my weird behaviour and as people have suggested that I'm now subconsciously playing up to that and they'll catch it in the test and think I'm faking on purpose to abuse it" etc etc. But for me at least where I got mine done it was just a chat covering different things that suggest it and they were happy to explain things as much as needed, one of the first things I said was that the questionnaire they sent me beforehand was way to vague for me as it says "have you been sensitive to light" and the such, to which my first thought was "based on what scale? how do I know if what I experience isn't what other people do, is squinting constantly when it's sunny not the norm or is that the norm when not wearing sunglasses?"

    Basically, to sum it up they'll have dealt with people all across the spectrum so will know how stressed you might feel because of it and the best way to reduce it while carrying out the assessment, unlike in the rest of the world they won't be expecting you to behave like everybody else and if anything will know more about it to the point they will likely be able to explain things you didn't even realise in a way that can help you cope more easily.

  • Autism is a spectrum and it is important to know if you want to be diagnosed or not as you can .influence the outcome of the assessment if you are include or forget some facts. We do all tend to worry and be analytical I feel and that is a what we are 

    is there a benefit to you in having a diagnosis?

    presumably there is, so I would make sure you include what you know are relevant symptoms 

    as with everything in life, some things we choose to celebrate and other things to hide

  • they specialise in women presentations of autism which is good.

    Dont worry. They have a great reputation and a wealth of experience. if you are autistic, or have something similar, they will be able to tell. 

    There will probably will be interviews and some simple tests. They will take a lot of notes. Don't worry or think about the test. You will just wind yourself up. You could make a list of all your symptoms and when they occur. List all the members of your family with ASC or similar, make a list of anyone who has said you are autistic and when ( no one ever said to me "I think you're autistic" but some said " you're crazy", "you're behaviour is odd" things like that),  You can scan these lists in the interview. You can also hand these lists to the interviewers as evidence, saves them missing some of what you say.  

    Then relax, if you have autism the Lorna Wing staff will know.