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Waiting times for report after assessment

gerald_hosepipe

Hi

Hopefully someone can offer me some advice.  I took the assessment back in September and was told the report would be ready in a while.  It's now February and just over 5 months to the day but I'm still being told it is being finalised (the same thing I'm told every time I ask).  It was via the NHS but is 5 months plus a normal amount of time for a report to written?  

I'm getting pretty desperate as most of the mental health treatment I receive has was put on hold as they wanted me to have the assessment.  It's now been close to 18 months since I had a psychologist appointment.  I've been sectioned on a few occasions during this time but am always told they need the report before they decide on the next course of action.   

Also, I didn't feel the assessment was great in how it was conducted.  Basically, someone I've never met before who talked to me like a child for 45 minutes.  I'm mid 40's and know I was heavily masking as I was trying to stop myself from running out of the door as I already overwhelmed before even going in.  My perception was that he seemed to believe I was making it up and he heavily hinted that I was nowhere near the threshold - again if this was the case why the long wait for the report? I've had prior psychologists (they were also trained to undertake autism assessments) who I've worked for over a period months who all said that they believe I easily meet the threshold and that I need to pursue a formal diagnosis yet some guy I've never met can say yes or no based on a fraught 45 min chat and a book / some toys.  So, when it comes back negative, am I able to request a second opinion or should I just look to book a private assessment now? 

Parents

  • An update as I hate to leave unresolved! 

    I had an appointment earlier where I was given the outcome of the assessment.  To my astonishment I was told that I do meet the diagnostic threshold and officially am autistic.   Just waiting now on a formal appointment to go be given the full report and discuss what it means and what, if anything happens next (I'm guessing there will be something as I've been recently under the crisis team again).  

    Currently feeling a bit numb and certainly still processing it as I may be a while.  There is sense of anger though, that it's taken decades to reach this point but at the same time, there is a sense of a weight being lifted. 

    Thank you all for your time and advice.  

  • in reply to gerald_hosepipe

    I am really pleased to hear that you have now heard about the outcome of your assessment (it seemed a very long time for someone to have to wait for their important news).

    Sorry to understand that it has taken decades for this point to be reached - many here, me too, have shared similar decades of lengthy journeys to reach our Autism understanding.  (This is not a comment offered to in any way diminish the impact of your own personal journey - rather, it is to demonstrate an example of the Autistic style of "love language" - as we tend to share our stories to demonstrate our solidarity - it is not a competitive concept - it is part of how we try to show you have been heard / seen / understood).

    It can feel a long path to that knowledge - and it is not easy to find people in our real world community who actually "get it".  However, I hope you will feel, here on the forum, that you are among people who really do get it.

    If you can focus well on the sense on the weight being lifted, (my own version of that is: "and now I know why"), it can be very helpful - as you slowly start to absorb your news.

    Do take it easy on yourself - as it can seem a lot to process (no rush is required).

    Best wishes.

Reply
  • in reply to gerald_hosepipe

    I am really pleased to hear that you have now heard about the outcome of your assessment (it seemed a very long time for someone to have to wait for their important news).

    Sorry to understand that it has taken decades for this point to be reached - many here, me too, have shared similar decades of lengthy journeys to reach our Autism understanding.  (This is not a comment offered to in any way diminish the impact of your own personal journey - rather, it is to demonstrate an example of the Autistic style of "love language" - as we tend to share our stories to demonstrate our solidarity - it is not a competitive concept - it is part of how we try to show you have been heard / seen / understood).

    It can feel a long path to that knowledge - and it is not easy to find people in our real world community who actually "get it".  However, I hope you will feel, here on the forum, that you are among people who really do get it.

    If you can focus well on the sense on the weight being lifted, (my own version of that is: "and now I know why"), it can be very helpful - as you slowly start to absorb your news.

    Do take it easy on yourself - as it can seem a lot to process (no rush is required).

    Best wishes.

Children
  • in reply to DormouseAtRest_25

    I think it's important we share stories.  It's certainly not a competition and your experience may well help me in some ways and so on. I've been lucky that I was recently allocated a counsellor who is autistic themself and we've been able to chat about many things such as thinking patterns, understanding of the world and everything else that's been beneficial to my understanding of myself.  Now it's 'official' I'll feel a little less of a fraud.