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AuDHD Assessments

NAS96682

Hi there 

I'm trying to find out about getting an AuDHD diagnosis.

Is there such a thing? If so, can it be done on the NHS? Online, I can only find private options which are unaffordable. I already have an ADHD diagnosis but my OCD is escalating off the scale. Having done some research, I found out about AuDHD. As Autism and OCD can appear similar, it is often missed. An initial Autism assessment came back negative so wasn't pursued. As I have now entered perimenopause, my sensitivity to sound, need for  structure and routine is out of control and I'm struggling to cope. 

I'm nervous about contacting my GP as the battle to get them to assist in the ADHD assessment was a nightmare. Not sure I have enough in me to fight for more help. Any info / advice or guidance on what to do would be massively appreciated. 

Many thanks 

joanne 

  • in reply to NAS96682

    You're most welcome! :)

  • in reply to Bunny

    Thank you Bunny, thats really helpful.

    j

  • Hi Joanne and welcome to the community!

    It's certainly true that some of us can be diagnosed with both Autism and ADHD. However, "AuDHD" is not a medical or diagnostic term - it's just a shorthand term, created by the neurodivergent community, used to refer to people who do have both conditions.

    Each condition is still assessed separately. As you already have an ADHD diagnosis, you're therefore asking about exploring an autism diagnosis. 

    The NAS's recently revamped diagnosis hub contains articles that offer a wealth of information on this:

    NAS - diagnosis hub

    They cover all stages of the process, with each section containing several articles relating to that stage:

    • Before diagnosis
    • Assessment and diagnosis 
    • After diagnosis 

    From what you've said, these articles (from "Before diagnosis") might make for a particularly timely read:

    NAS - Signs that a child or adult may be autistic

    NAS - How to request an autism assessment

    For those who live in England, it also includes information about requesting an assessment via Right to Choose (which enables access to private providers who might have shorter waiting lists than the NHS, but with your referral and assessment still fully funded by the NHS). Examples of Right to Choose providers are listed here, for example:

    ADHD and ASD assessment – Right To Choose

    The NAS articles include links to some screening questionnaires that you might like to complete, to get a better idea of whether your suspicions are correct. You might prefer to use the website below for this, rather than the versions linked in the NAS article.

    This site provides some very useful commentary for each questionnaire, and also enables them to be completed online (with scores calculated for you), saved as PDFs and - if the results support your suspicions and you decide to seek a formal diagnosis - printed off to take with you to the GP.

    The AQ-10 or AQ-50 seem to be the most frequently used / required by GPs in support of NHS referrals. RAADS-R might also be helpful:

    Embrace Autism - screening tests