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Adult experience of getting an autism assessment

NAS73915

Hi 

This is my first post on here.  I am 46 and female and am considering the possibility that I may be mildly on the autism spectrum.  I am unsure about trying to get a professional opinion as have heard of some negative experiences of the process and just wondered if others could share how they went about getting diagnosed and what the process was like?

I have done four different online tests which indicate if you may be on the spectrum and they all said I may be mildly.

Thank you very much.

Parents

  • I think it's the old postcode lottery scenario. I've had a very positive dealings so far with the NHS about my autism (given longer timescales due to covid).

    I contacted my GP in July 2019 - she was very supportive, but it took a few weeks for her to figure out how to refer me to the Autism Assessment path.  

    I was contacted in late 2019 by the assessment service and sent some diagnostic tests (AQ50? Cambridge Behaviour Scale? can't remember exactly). Not long after I was told I was eligble for assessment and put on the waiting list - "some months long" I was told.

    Covid 19 screwed things up, but I did get some follow up calls to explain the delays and check I was coping.

    I was finally offered a video assement in April 2021 - sadly I couldn't attend because my brain was AWOL/shutdown until June when I got back in touch with the assessment service. Now it's booked for Sept 2021.

    In the last 2 years I've read as many technical and personal accounts of ASD, Aspergers, PDA and any similar conditions that they are misdiagnosed with.

    I've also made a concerted effort to recollect all manner of incidents hidden in the darker corners of my mind - in the past I shied away from thinking about the past, but now I can re-visit them through the lens of autism... and they all make sense now! (well nearly all)

    I now have a much greater understanding on how I need to arrange my life to suit my autism - I don't need to wait for the official diagnosis for that.

Reply

  • I think it's the old postcode lottery scenario. I've had a very positive dealings so far with the NHS about my autism (given longer timescales due to covid).

    I contacted my GP in July 2019 - she was very supportive, but it took a few weeks for her to figure out how to refer me to the Autism Assessment path.  

    I was contacted in late 2019 by the assessment service and sent some diagnostic tests (AQ50? Cambridge Behaviour Scale? can't remember exactly). Not long after I was told I was eligble for assessment and put on the waiting list - "some months long" I was told.

    Covid 19 screwed things up, but I did get some follow up calls to explain the delays and check I was coping.

    I was finally offered a video assement in April 2021 - sadly I couldn't attend because my brain was AWOL/shutdown until June when I got back in touch with the assessment service. Now it's booked for Sept 2021.

    In the last 2 years I've read as many technical and personal accounts of ASD, Aspergers, PDA and any similar conditions that they are misdiagnosed with.

    I've also made a concerted effort to recollect all manner of incidents hidden in the darker corners of my mind - in the past I shied away from thinking about the past, but now I can re-visit them through the lens of autism... and they all make sense now! (well nearly all)

    I now have a much greater understanding on how I need to arrange my life to suit my autism - I don't need to wait for the official diagnosis for that.

Children
  • in reply to moon

    Hi Moon  Thank you for sharing your experience.  I am currently revisiting my past through a different lens and am finding a lot of things making sense.  I hope all goes well for you with your assessment.  It's interesting to know that the NHS can do a video assessment as this would be good for me.