Assessment next week!

Hi All,

I am quite new to this forum, hello all.

I’ve been waiting a year for ASD diagnosis - I had part one last week with a nurse practitioner, and I was expecting a multi-disciplinary team for part two, however it’s just with the same nurse practitioner (and only the nurse practitioner, or any member of the team). I asked if the clinical psychologist would be present, and they don't have a psychologist on the team, seems for a mental health team you’d expect a psychologist?!

I didn't particularly gel with the nurse practitioner (but then i don't with anyone!) - I had flash backs of when I went through the PIP process, when you say something they record something different almost the opposite of what you said!

Ive had two clinical psychologists since 2021, both of which said it’s highly likely my autistic traits are because of I am autistic. I am scoring 43/50 on ASQ and 180/240 on RAADS-R. I am most likely to question any output from the diagnostic session - has any one else been diagnosed by a single nurse practitioner? Seems against the NICE guidelines to me?

Parents
  • Just try to give an honest account of yourself and you’ll be fine, they are going to be observing your language and social capabilities, in a way that your mask and your perception won’t account for. 

    Just make sure to consider your neurological timeline from 1-2 years old, if you have a familiar-person being interviewed, it is helpful to line-those-ducks-up to establish the neurological-timeline aspect.

    PIP is a question of resource allocation and wording; screening is completely different, this one is about a professional observing autistic traits both currently and retroactively, you’ll be okay..:)

  • Thanks , yes I am most probably overthinking it like everything I do! My mother has filled out questionnaire which is insightful and my wife knew me as a child and she’ll be present at the screening session. Ive been told there will be no rubber jigsaws to structured interview. I am just surprised they don’t have a psychologist as part of the NHS team!

  • I’ve found that one of the best specialists that you can hope for, are the speech-and-language therapists, as they have a greater passive-awareness of communication and comprehension impairment. 

    It’s good that you have your timelines secure for the neurodiversity-interview that your trusted-person fills out, it is importance to recognise divergence between 1-2 years old, such as whether your parents found you ‘odd’ or ‘unrewarding’ at times (as a result of social impairment etc.).

Reply
  • I’ve found that one of the best specialists that you can hope for, are the speech-and-language therapists, as they have a greater passive-awareness of communication and comprehension impairment. 

    It’s good that you have your timelines secure for the neurodiversity-interview that your trusted-person fills out, it is importance to recognise divergence between 1-2 years old, such as whether your parents found you ‘odd’ or ‘unrewarding’ at times (as a result of social impairment etc.).

Children
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