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Refused Diagnosis

Professor Precise-a-bug

In January I had a telephone consultation with my GP who referred me to GBT.. So I am on the never ending waiting list because of lack of resources. (Meanwhile the sainted NHS spends money on IDE indoctrination.  But thats s a different story). Obviously I am still waiting.

Meanwhile with the prompting of a good friend who is a retired head teacher and has been telling me I am autistic I had a second consultation regarding a diagnosis or test for Autism. Actually thats why I joined this community. The GP gave me a couple of screening forms to fill out. Last week I was told my request for a diagnosis has been turned down because in a question about drinking I ticked the box saying "frequently". 

I am not best please with this and feel I am not being treated properly. I seem to recall comments that autistics tend to drink more than neurotypicals.  

Parents

  • I'm sorry to hear that.

    Assuming that I've understood correctly (with apologies if I haven't), I suggest sharing this article - from the NAS's professional practice resources - with your GP.

    In it, the author explains how "many adults are undiagnosed, and alcohol can act as a successful coping strategy, hiding autistic difficulties for many years before the alcohol becomes a problem in itself."

    That was certainly my own experience. During my own autism assessment, the psychiatrist noted that I had become dependent on alcohol, due to using it as secondary coping mechanism in respect of my autism-based struggles.

    Please don't misunderstand: I'm not implying that you are also dependent on alcohol. But this article should hopefully help your GP to understand that evidence of frequent - or even excessive - alcohol consumption, including to the point of alcohol dependency, is not necessarily inconsistent with that person also potentially being autistic. It might even be a useful clue, as it proved to be in my case.

    If the results of your screening questionnaires otherwise support it, then I would suggest re-requesting the referral.

    NAS (professional practice) - Autism and alcohol

Reply

  • I'm sorry to hear that.

    Assuming that I've understood correctly (with apologies if I haven't), I suggest sharing this article - from the NAS's professional practice resources - with your GP.

    In it, the author explains how "many adults are undiagnosed, and alcohol can act as a successful coping strategy, hiding autistic difficulties for many years before the alcohol becomes a problem in itself."

    That was certainly my own experience. During my own autism assessment, the psychiatrist noted that I had become dependent on alcohol, due to using it as secondary coping mechanism in respect of my autism-based struggles.

    Please don't misunderstand: I'm not implying that you are also dependent on alcohol. But this article should hopefully help your GP to understand that evidence of frequent - or even excessive - alcohol consumption, including to the point of alcohol dependency, is not necessarily inconsistent with that person also potentially being autistic. It might even be a useful clue, as it proved to be in my case.

    If the results of your screening questionnaires otherwise support it, then I would suggest re-requesting the referral.

    NAS (professional practice) - Autism and alcohol

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