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Got my appointment with my GP in a fortnight to ask to be referred for an autism assessment

Balletdude

Hi all. Not posted in a while. Not really felt like being online much, other than for my art.

I've finally booked an appointment with my GP (well one of the ones from my practice) to ask to be referred for an autism assessment.
Slightly nervous about it. Really hope he agrees, don't know what Id do if he says no, just stay stuck where i am I guess.
Things that are concerning me.

1. I have no parents so I've no-one to provide info about my early childhood (I can remember bits but don't remember any playing with other children, just random bits at home with my parents)
2. I have tried to ask friends what they notice it's either I don't know really, or they just don't want to do it which is fine, so that avenue is gone really
3. I asked one work colleague (sort of friend) and they said they saw nothing. Yet I asked another Work colleague and friend for nearly 30 years (they worked with me and the other person and they came back with a long list of things from when we were at college and when we worked together) So sort of mixed messages.
Would you just tell them about the one who gave answers and ignore the other one(I've a feeling she didnt want to get involved)

A good point I've a friend who is waiting for theyr assessment and they said they have noticed some things in me as well so thats got to be a positive hasn't it?


Finally any tips for my GP appointment (please don't say take someone with you as I've no one who can)

Best

Simon

  • Reading through the responses it looks like you're already doing all the right things.  Lists and links to criteria for the win! The only thing I would add would be to go through your notes and highlight a few favourite examples of difficulty for each criteria (communication, social, restricted interest/routine) because you might not have time to go through all of it.

  • Hi Simon,

    I had a GP appointment last week and it was straight forward for me. I just took a list of all the difficulties I’ve had throughout my life (that relate to autism!) and gave her the list. She did ask me some questions here and there and kept wondering out loud whether it was just social anxiety. But in the end she did agree to refer me for assessment due to the points on my list. I haven’t received a letter or follow up yet but hoping to receive one soon.

    All the best 

  • Hello.

    I wrote a letter to my GP (who I'd never met), explaining my difficulties, the results I'd had from my online test and a request for a referral.

    I was so lucky to have picked the right GP as he referred me right away. Sadly my county withdrew all funding for adult assessments just before Covid hit and until now thats been the case.

    But, good news, after the same GP chasing it up for me 2 weeks ago, I got a call today telling me there's a cancellation and my assessment is on Monday.

    So after a nearly 3 year wait I hope to get some answers, one way or the other. I have no support person and had no one to fill in the support questionnaire either so don't worry about that part either.

    Write down as much as you can before hand and persist.

    Good luck.

  • in reply to Balletdude

    Hyper focused on subjects, surely not. Autistic people tend to do that!

  • in reply to Roy

    Thank you I've been watching a lot of YoSamdysams videos, they are really useful
     I've done the AQ50 and scored 42
    The sq and scored 103
    and the EQ and scored 9

    I've used the DSMV and wrote down everything I can think of that can go under each section
    (I get to focused and obsessed with things like that and I'm currently on 10 pages thogh i do waffle a bit at times)

  • Hi Simon, firstly, I know it’s hard but try not to worry too much. I’m older and only have one surviving parent who is too old to be able to help. I also didn’t always live at home as  a child. I’m sure you have researched and made a list of how autism effects you. Your answers on the AQ50 form can be used to fill in the blanks in your assessment.

    Don’t worry too far down the line, after referral you will have plenty of time to process your childhood and adult life, It will come back piece by piece and start to make sense. The main thing at the moment is to use the two weeks to build your case, as I said make a list of traits and how you generally function. The GP unfortunately is the gate keeper. I found some really good YouTube videos and books that helped me to realise that there was actually no doubt as to me being autistic. Yosamdysam on YouTube has some good videos, good luck.