how to get a diagnosis as an adult?

Hi again kingbill,

I have just read that you managed to get your diagnosis. I hadn't seen your latest post to this effect so, I'm sorry for that. Best wishes, Nick. 

Hi kingbill,

I am twice your age and I have recently been diagnosed with Aspergers. I wrote a little piece about my own experience of getting a diagnosis on Brian Smith's post ..."To all who have been or are in the process of being, diagnosed ..." Likewise until recently I had found it difficult if not impossible to get a GP to take my situation seriously. But then I moved house and area and I got lucky. I hope that eventually you will also get the diagnosis you want and deserve. Good luck. Nick.

spektral said:

For this reason.

[quote][/quote]

Of the 43 pages we tested on the site over the past 90 days, 6 page(s) resulted in malicious software being downloaded and installed without user consent. The last time Google visited this site was on 2012-07-09, and the last time suspicious content was found on this site was on 2012-07-09.

Malicious software is hosted on 2 domain(s), including bhujzorkulhkpwob.ru/, otruvbidvikzhlop.ru/.

It seems that there web host has possibly been hacked or has viruses. If anyone is in contact with this place you might want to tell them!

is why.

Why are you saying this ??????

Any one intrested in the  Dilemma Consultancy should do a search on this site and then satisfy themselves it i safe to Google. Professor Tantam is a world leading ASD specialist who has written many books and papers.  

WARNING! Do not search for and visit the 'Dilemma Clinic' website - it may contain malware.

Has anyone in North Wales been diagnosed by the Dilemma clinic (Prof Tantam), Sheffield?????

wendyocd said:

I'm struggling to get a diagnoses for Aspergers. I've been diagnosed with OCD since I was a child. My brothers are diagnosed with autism as is so far my oldest son.

Luckily my GP referred me straight away, my problem is that I have no way of getting to the assessment centre that I've been referred to and I can't find a way round this current problem.

 Good luck and all the best.

Its interesting you mention OCD. I received a private diagnosis from the Dilemma Clinic in Sheffield in July last year however my local CMHT, PCT and local Authority refuse to accept it after years of probable personality disorder, the psychiatrist now insists I have a Anankanstic personality disorder which can't be treated. I have had several serious shutdowns/breakdowns which I was told were anxiety/stress related up untill this psych took over in the mid 2000. I have never had a care plan or care coordinator.

They are refusing to answer the most basic of questions and have me labelled as a extreme risk because they put me on remand in prison without bail in 2010 when I became  suicidal due to the way I was treated at a self harm group I was forced into attending by being told they would not see me again. I ended up with a 12 month sentence beause of a damning forensic psych report. A private psycho-thearipist's concerns about ASD and an initial ADHD consultation were ignored.  I few months before I was convicted of a non violent harassment against my exwife simply because I called to see her on more than one occassion to discuss property matters. She lied and was believed because she worked as a senior O/T for the local social service department.

She told me to go without warning or any obivious reationship breakdown when I was having another breakdown effectively making me homeless.The subsequent civil court case cost me £8000 and her possibly £16000. Up to then 44 years old I didn't have a criminal record. It all makes a mockery of the disability and vunerable adult procedures/laws they only apply in certain circumstances usually when women or public employees are concerned!!!

  Its no coincidence they are rejecting my diagnosis and barred me from services. The LA is still pusuing a vendetta against me.

Has anyone else been diagnosed by the Dilemma clinic (Prof Tantam) and their diagnosis accepted by the local PCT. I'am especially interested if anyone in North Wales have had their dagnosis accepted with out question.

Everyone with a OCD personality diagnosis be carefull this could happen to you!!!!!!!!!

They use it to ignore people and implement "RISK TO STAFF" procedures.

This link should take you directly to the Identification and Assessment section of the NICE Pathways website. 
http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/autism#path=view%3A/pathways/autism/identification-and-assessment-of-autism-in-adults.xml&content=view-node%3Anodes-identification-and-initial-assessment  

I am getting the impression from reading on this forum about other peoples' experiences that the GP seen when requesting a referral may make a substantial difference on the path to a diagnosis.  I took a copy of this "GP's Guide to Asperger Syndrome" with me at the suggestion of one of the wonderful people with NAS.  The GP I saw seemed to be somewhat familiar with Asperger syndrome (lucky for me):
http://www.nhs.uk/ipgmedia/national/The%20National%20Autistic%20Society/Assets/GPsguidetoAspergersyndrome.pdf

After reading quite a lot about Asperger syndrome I realized that a diagnosis would not do much for me in terms of treatment.  I saw a GP and explained I thought I had AS, but I focused initially on trying medication for my life long excess anxiety as well as mild symptoms of depression and OCD.  Two years later I made the case for an AS diagnosis after giving it some very serious consideration.

The Autism Pathway is the fast, easy summary view of NICE guidance on 'autism' and describes the step by step route to diagnosis and management of anyone who may be on the autism spectrum. This is the new pathway which ought to be followed by doctors. It only came out yesterday, so your doctor may not have seen it. It might be worth putting the link on a card for your doctor.

Good luck 

I have now been dianosed with aspergers after a 18 month wait for referal thank you for all your help. I was refered to clinical pschycologist three weeks ago and aspergers was confirmed. Now i am waiting for them to send report to my gp thyen maybe i will get the help that i need. thanks .

I'm struggling to get a diagnoses for Aspergers. I've been diagnosed with OCD since I was a child. My brothers are diagnosed with autism as is so far my oldest son.

Luckily my GP referred me straight away, my problem is that I have no way of getting to the assessment centre that I've been referred to and I can't find a way round this current problem.

Good luck and all the best.

HI,

I am nearing the end of a very long road to diagnosis but largely the end has come more by luck than judgement. I have asked various GP's on several occasions to be referred for further investigation but usually they talked about a lack of funding etc.

However I developed a heart condition last year and the anxiety I feel through my Asperger's does not help so I asked to be referred to counselling to try and work on some coping mechanisms. As luck would have it I am being seen by a consultant clinical psychologist whose job entails diagnosing people with ASD's. I am being diagnosed and referred for further testing to assertain my limitations and to then work on further methods to help me cope with life.

I feel at long last that there is some light at the end of my particular tunnel and for once I am hopeful of things getting better.

Thanks

James

thankyou for your replies I have allready beeen trying to get a refferal for 8 months now my wife has phoned the helpline and there is no specialist in our area I will try to get a information pack for my gp my wife thinks i should put in a complaint is this wise?

Hi Kingbill, 

I just wanted to stress again how useful it may be for you to contact our helpline. Not only will they be able to explain the possible routes to diagnosis they also have access to a detailed directory of local services in the UK.

As a starting point to access clear guidance and local services it can be invaluable. The number is also free to call from both landlines and mobiles phones so please consider calling.

They are available on 0808 800 4104 from 10 am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

As well as the advice they can provide they will also be able to suggest our other telephone lines that may be able to help.

If you'd rather look for local support yourself then our Autism Services Directory provides links to lots of local services. You can search for help by your postcode through the following address -

http://www.autism.org.uk/directory

You may also find it helpful to look through our section on adult diagnosis. This includes information on making a complaint if you feel the service you have received hasn't been acceptable - although again we'd recommend speaking to the helpline to see what help is available if you wanted to go down that road.

And do let us know how things go for you, clearly you need the support of people with a better understanding of autism and the possible ways to approach an adult diagnosis.

Thinking about this again Kingbill I wonder if the thing to do is go to your MP armed with the Autism stategy and ask them to intervene.  I think this treatment is unacceptable.

Kingbill, this is very bad practice on the part of the GP's.

I don't know if it is worth getting a copy of the Government autism strategy "fulfilling and rewarding lives" which you can get electronically and showing to your GP.  It says things like

"diagnosis of autism is an important step towards a fulfilling life. It can not only help them and their families understand their behaviour and responses, but should also help with access to services and support, if they need them. Currently, diagnosis can be a complex and lengthy process. Adults with autism talk of having to battle hard – sometimes for years – to get a diagnosis, and then finding that diagnosis is being challenged when they try to access services

Diagnosis is particularly important for adults who have not previously had their condition recognised: their life to date may have been greatly affected by a sense of not fitting in, of not understanding the way they respond to situations or why social settings, for example, are difficult. It is equally important for their families or those who care for and support them: in line with the Think Family agenda, it can be an important step in ensuring that support takes account of how autism can affect the whole family"

As I understand it the GP's are are in contravention of Govt policy acting in this way.

I'm 38 and have just recently been diagnosed with Aspergers. It was my wife that phoned the gp as she noticed things about me that she had always put down to my bouts of depression but after my last breakdown they became more apparent. She described what I do and say etc to the gp and she sent me to see the Aspergers team at the hospital where I go to see the psychiatrist and it all strated to go from there. That all started in January this year so it is a long process but all I can say is just keep going to your gp and telling them exactly what you have to go through on a day to day basis and if possible get familly members to do the same for you and I hope they will finally start to help.

Best wishes and I hope everything works out for you all.

Like you i am a 43 yr old adult waiting for a diagnosis. My psychiatrist says it all depends on funding though. I hope your able to get a diagnosis,so good luck with that.

Hello Kingbill,

I am also being seen to by my GP and I have been referred to CLASS in Cambridge,it is all free and I am waiting for a appointment to be diagnosed by world renowned specialists.

If you lived in Cambridgeshire then you would have access to all this.

Good Luck.

Hi kingbill

Thanks for posting.  Below is a link to the helpline.  Give them a ring. I am sure they will be able to give you loads of advice on the action you need to take.

www.autism.org.uk/.../Autism-Helpline.aspx

All the best

Colinthecat

Hi Kingbill

I was successful in gettig a a diagnosis as an adult.   I was told initially that there were no facilities for adult diagnosis but she eventually agreed to "see what she could do".  It all took some time but eventually she managed  to arrange for me to see a psychiatrist and this led to my getting a diagnosis.

I think the problem is less with the GP and more with the medical board covering  the area in which one lives.  In mine they channelled all funds available into the diagnosis and treatment of children/young adults but this may change as more older adults ask for diagnosis.

I think it helped that I had obtained an information pack from The National Autistic Society which gave a lot of help over how to obtain a diagnosis, plus "A GP's Guide to adults with Asperger's syndrome" and I'd recommend getting a pack.

I hope things work out for you.