Hi everyone, I have recently discovered I might have autism - well i am very sure I have so I did the aq test online and scored 34/50 and it said I have many autistic traits. I spoke to my doctor and he said he can refer me to a local service but they are likely to reject my referral because unless I have threatening behaviour or am violent I wont get seen. So unfair
Can anyone give any advice?
Thanks
The doctor's response as you have worded it does in deed sound very concerning. I would question both the doctors understanding of yourself and autism in general as well as the service to which he is referring. But to be honest, given a response like that, I do tend to agree that going to another doctor may be in your best for your interests as well as considering how you yourself present and what you say.
My advice is to first rule out other factors, that could still exist with an ASD diagnosis. I live in Australia. I understand the way things are done in other countries our different, but for the most part beleive the hierarchy of diagnosis from what I have read is very similar.
Here is how I 'ended' up with a diagnosis of Autism ... NOTE* Government funding may be different in other countries.
Step 1. Find Psychologist
Rang around on advice from family, friends & various Community Facilities and staff - to find a Psychologist. A General/Registered Psychologist will often be cheaper and open to concessional or funding schemes (just ask if money matters)
Step 2.Reason for Psychologist
It helps to have a reason and will assist the GP with referral letter. (depending if this process I am out laying is similar in your country) Ask them.
Reason = "I've been advised that I may do well to seek a Psychologist to talk about many of the challenges I am facing when out and bout in the community" You reason must be yours and one your OK with and more reflects why Your seeking what your seeking. Knowing why your doing what your doing will better assist both the Psychologist & Gp.
But here' s the thing, make sure you don't tell a GP that your in their office because of an online test you did for autism or any condition. Also try not telling them what you beleive you think you have. Just keep it simple with requesting a referral re the reason above.
Typically doctors down at the local medical center (at least here in Australia) are not specialist. The are meant to be utilized more as a 'general' link in the chain. Which is why I suggest you keep it simple and know in 'general' terms what you are going there for.
Having outlined steps 1 & 2 ... I'll outline how the doctors generally goes when seeking a referral.
Step 3. At the GPs (Doctors) Requesting a Referral
Have the Name of Phycologist ready with their contact details and also keep your reason simple (similar to reason above) when 'requesting' a referral letter to said Phycologist.
____________________________________________________
Now that you have helped the doctor re you intentions and having provided the required information and reason, there is a good chance that you can a practitioner who is better able to assist you in your quest.
A few years later (excuse me while I roll on the floor : D ) whilst still in therapy:
This kind of thing takes a lot longer than most people today think.
Therefore, the way in which my labels were sort - hmmmm ... personally was more organic and felt more genuine from my said experience, that after some time I was more able to connect with the resulting labels Vs anything online test or article I read.
Additionally it's important to understand how the diagnosis process works in relation from steps 1 to 3 or as may be in your country.
Generally speaking:
Define a reason to seek out an approatiate 'specialist' (before seeing a GP) with that being a registered Psychologist that can better assist with navigating further proceedings (if warranted) with their own referrals to more upscaled PHDs that are authorized to give 'certain' Diagnoses.
In Australia and 'depending' how it is that an Autism Diagnosis is going to be used within whatever scheme, may determine and or see some diagnoses challenged where even a Clinical Psychologist's report may need to be upscaled or re-authorized by a psychiatrist.
I personally do not like the system that is in-place for reason I won't go into. But the take away from all this is that knowing how the system works and what you want and why you want it can save a lot of time ... yet trying to rush things can complicate matters.
Hope some of that helps. Wishing you all the best.
The doctor's response as you have worded it does in deed sound very concerning. I would question both the doctors understanding of yourself and autism in general as well as the service to which he is referring. But to be honest, given a response like that, I do tend to agree that going to another doctor may be in your best for your interests as well as considering how you yourself present and what you say.
My advice is to first rule out other factors, that could still exist with an ASD diagnosis. I live in Australia. I understand the way things are done in other countries our different, but for the most part beleive the hierarchy of diagnosis from what I have read is very similar.
Here is how I 'ended' up with a diagnosis of Autism ... NOTE* Government funding may be different in other countries.
Step 1. Find Psychologist
Rang around on advice from family, friends & various Community Facilities and staff - to find a Psychologist. A General/Registered Psychologist will often be cheaper and open to concessional or funding schemes (just ask if money matters)
Step 2.Reason for Psychologist
It helps to have a reason and will assist the GP with referral letter. (depending if this process I am out laying is similar in your country) Ask them.
Reason = "I've been advised that I may do well to seek a Psychologist to talk about many of the challenges I am facing when out and bout in the community" You reason must be yours and one your OK with and more reflects why Your seeking what your seeking. Knowing why your doing what your doing will better assist both the Psychologist & Gp.
But here' s the thing, make sure you don't tell a GP that your in their office because of an online test you did for autism or any condition. Also try not telling them what you beleive you think you have. Just keep it simple with requesting a referral re the reason above.
Typically doctors down at the local medical center (at least here in Australia) are not specialist. The are meant to be utilized more as a 'general' link in the chain. Which is why I suggest you keep it simple and know in 'general' terms what you are going there for.
Having outlined steps 1 & 2 ... I'll outline how the doctors generally goes when seeking a referral.
Step 3. At the GPs (Doctors) Requesting a Referral
Have the Name of Phycologist ready with their contact details and also keep your reason simple (similar to reason above) when 'requesting' a referral letter to said Phycologist.
____________________________________________________
Now that you have helped the doctor re you intentions and having provided the required information and reason, there is a good chance that you can a practitioner who is better able to assist you in your quest.
A few years later (excuse me while I roll on the floor : D ) whilst still in therapy:
This kind of thing takes a lot longer than most people today think.
Therefore, the way in which my labels were sort - hmmmm ... personally was more organic and felt more genuine from my said experience, that after some time I was more able to connect with the resulting labels Vs anything online test or article I read.
Additionally it's important to understand how the diagnosis process works in relation from steps 1 to 3 or as may be in your country.
Generally speaking:
Define a reason to seek out an approatiate 'specialist' (before seeing a GP) with that being a registered Psychologist that can better assist with navigating further proceedings (if warranted) with their own referrals to more upscaled PHDs that are authorized to give 'certain' Diagnoses.
In Australia and 'depending' how it is that an Autism Diagnosis is going to be used within whatever scheme, may determine and or see some diagnoses challenged where even a Clinical Psychologist's report may need to be upscaled or re-authorized by a psychiatrist.
I personally do not like the system that is in-place for reason I won't go into. But the take away from all this is that knowing how the system works and what you want and why you want it can save a lot of time ... yet trying to rush things can complicate matters.
Hope some of that helps. Wishing you all the best.
