Private diagnosis

A psychologist or psychiatrist can diagnose you.  Certain paediatricians can diagnose kids. A CBT therapist cannot do this, and it’s completely wrong for them to suggest they can. 

I was refused an NHS assessment by my local autism service in 2019.. My GP obtained out of county funding from my local clinical commissioning group so that I could have a 2nd opinion assessment. I got my autism diagnosis at the Lorna Wing Centre in 2022 at the age of 57. Good luck with getting an assessment.

Hi Heather,

This would normally be a team headed by either a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist who have been specifically trained in neurodevelopmental conditions.  You would normally expect a speech and language specialist too.  A CBT therapist wouldn't normally do a neuropsychological assessment unless they just happen to have CBT training alongside their other skills.  I would check out any private provider quite carefully.  There are some excellent ones out there but also some who aren't.  You need to make sure that the NHS will accept the outcome of an assessment, so a provider who does NHS work would be ideal.

I would probe the reasons you were refused an NHS referral though.  Was that by your GP or the neurodevelopmental team?  Many people struggle to get past the GP because most GPs don't know a lot about autism and often even if they accept you might be they don't want to waste resources if they think you can just go on coping.  They often think if you have a job or a university place or a relationship it doesn't matter and you'll cope.  It does matter.

If that is the case I'd write all the reasons you think you might be autistic down along with all the ways you think a diagnosis would help you.  I'd also try an online AQ50 and print off the results to take.  Then ask to speak to another GP.

If it was the team, I'd ask them to explain why they haven't taken the referral.  Perhaps there is information which wasn't provided to them at the time they made the decision and they might be prepared to reconsider if you can provide more background.

Hope that helps.  

Psychology UK, where I got my diagnosis, does both private and NHS-funded online assessments. I think the cost is £900.

Thank you Martin for your reply. Much appreciated! I have since been in contact again they have told me that after the initial assesment with a nurse and psychotherapis, I am then seen by a psychologist if necessary I guess.  Just so anxious about parting with so much cash and being scammed  

Taken verbatim from the NICE guidelines for the assessment of ASD, "Diagnostic assessment, which in the UK uses ICD-10, is often within a multi-disciplinary team but at a minimum is by a qualified clinician, usually a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist or neurologist." From the document: Autism Recognition, referral, diagnosis and management of adults on the autism spectrum, National Clinical Guideline Number 142, p. 25.

You would have to check on their qualifications and membership of relevant medical licencing bodies.

There are a number of online private providers, who have fully qualified assessors for autism.