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Seeking an autism assessment

Goldfinch

Hi everyone,

After some months of reflection (and some useful advice from this forum), I have decided to start the ball rolling on an assessment by visiting the GP for an initial chat.

I've done all the online tests which register autism, and feel now is the right time to seek some support.

The GP didn't say too much, only asking a couple of questions, and asked for me to refer myself via Right to Choose and come back to her to 'sign off' the referral. I was under the impression I was to be referred by the GP?

I'm now incredibly confused and overwhelmed about where to start, or to even begin looking at Right to Choose providers.

Advice on this website recommends comparing local providers, including the all-important waiting lists before deciding. I'm not entirely sure where to look for any of this.

I believe there may be other more complicated elements to my diagnosis, such as potentially OCPD, so I'm keen to seek somewhere that will be able to dig further into this as well.

I know this may vary a lot, but does anyone have any idea of average waiting lists?

If I could find the money to go private, how much would this roughly cost, and would this effectively eliminate the waiting list to be seen almost immediately?

Many thanks.

Parents

  • Hi, I'm waiting for my assessment,  its gonna be October/ November this year. I go private, this does not mean, I will be seen almost immediately,  but waiting few months versus few years is a big difference. I chose to go private because of one big obstacle- the funded by health insurance providers here require a family member to be ready to be your informant. Not just a friend,  who knows you 20 years. Must be a family member. I don't fill this requirement, but I have some documentation supporting my story. The price varies often depending on place, assessment etc. I requested full report (tgere is another option- short report, just for me to have the confirmation) but I need full report to be able to access services and maybe use my diagnosis in contact with some institutions. So if i am autistic and get the diagnosis,  I need it to help me. For example give me access to local support group. My therapist referred me, who suspects that im autistic, I have therapy there for 1,5 year already. Relatively recently i had another critical episode and needed psychiatric help urgently. Then he decided that it's time to have me assessed. He didn't even ask for the tests results,  but the assessment provider asked and I submitted. I'm not in UK, I'm living in Germany. So the procedures may vary depending on location.

  • in reply to Alien0n3arth

    Thank you for your reply. I also have a concern about the family member element as I have yet to discuss this with them as I fear they may somehow blame themselves. I’m finding this potential element hard to deal with.

  • in reply to Goldfinch

    Or you can maybe try to look for an assessor who would be willing to work only with you and evidence such as school reports, old photos, some diary etc. I have old photos taken by me related to my special intrest, also an evidence of me having no friends and rich inner world. My assessor wrote me that the statements from family member are not significant for her because they are often distorted. Many people do not fill this requirement. Not always because of parents passed away, but often due to conflicts, parents having dementia, living in other country,  speaking different languages, due to emigration etc. 

    You may also talk to your family members and try to convince them that their help us important for you, maybe you could try to explain why you need the diagnosis and assure them that your neurodivergence is not their fault. In my case it's impossible. I wrote my assessor absolutely honestly that my mom does not accept this possibility and this label for me and I don't really have any close relationship with anyone else in the family. 

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  • in reply to Goldfinch

    Or you can maybe try to look for an assessor who would be willing to work only with you and evidence such as school reports, old photos, some diary etc. I have old photos taken by me related to my special intrest, also an evidence of me having no friends and rich inner world. My assessor wrote me that the statements from family member are not significant for her because they are often distorted. Many people do not fill this requirement. Not always because of parents passed away, but often due to conflicts, parents having dementia, living in other country,  speaking different languages, due to emigration etc. 

    You may also talk to your family members and try to convince them that their help us important for you, maybe you could try to explain why you need the diagnosis and assure them that your neurodivergence is not their fault. In my case it's impossible. I wrote my assessor absolutely honestly that my mom does not accept this possibility and this label for me and I don't really have any close relationship with anyone else in the family. 

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