• Replies 1 reply
  • Subscribers 82 subscribers
  • Views 37 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Have doubts about my assessment diagnosis.

Jude66

Hi

It is a while since I wrote my background. Since then I have received my assessment diagnosis, which came back, not enough evidence so not met for autism and that I'm innatentive ADHD. 

I was shocked at the Adhd diagnosis because I didn't know much about it back then but it has answered a lot for me. I really thought and very much still think I'm autistic. I went private for my assessment and felt comfortable with the assessor but im now having my doubts about her and don't know what to do next. Im hoping someone can advise me.

I read my report thoroughly when I received it and found a couple of mistakes and some things that she'd taken the wrong way. I emailed her about these things and asked if the diagnosis could be put on hold as I didnt understand, why a lot of the information and scores from the tools I did, pointed to me being autistic. She said that because of me not having much evidence from my childhood, my parents are no longer alive and I didnt have anyone who could speak for me at that time, that i didnt pass the criterion needed. Meaning that the diagnosis still stood but she would correct the misinformation, explain it better why I didn't meet them and send an updated assessment. 

I had to remind her about this and she did it that day but she only corrected 1 mistake.  She didnt alter the misinformation or explain things better, which she has appologised for, her error, which made me a little cross. I felt so not listened to that i just said i didn't see the point in going over it again and to just send a copy to my GP. She has said that there is every point to go over it again and if I want her to call me, just to say. 

If i speak to her im sure I will either get upset or say something I shouldn't. Having done some research I feel my adhd is pulling me one way and the autism in another and I cant settle when I think she's got it wrong.

I dont want to come across as telling her how to suck eggs if I speak to her.

Any advice would be appreciated thank you x

  • I'd encourage you to be open and honest about your concerns; I think it's great that she's actively reassuring you that going over it again is worthwhile, and is inviting you to arrange a call.

    It might help to note down, beforehand, everything that you want to discuss - and to use this as a reference during the call. Perhaps you could even email your questions / concerns in advance.

    This is exactly the kind of process that the NAS recommends here:

    "If you disagree with the outcome of the assessment, you may want to raise your concerns directly with the team of professionals who assessed you."

    NAS - What happens during an autism assessment > Assessment results and report

    In respect of childhood evidence, some others here have explained how - in the absence of being able to have input from parents or others - some of their own early memories have been considered sufficient.

    My old school reports and full medical records (which I obtained a copy of) were helpful in providing evidence themselves, and in helping me to remember relevant things that I'd forgotten. Alongside evidence from my parents, my partner's input was also taken into account.