• Replies 1 reply
  • Subscribers 25 subscribers
  • Views 768 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

Seeking a diagnosis

Ash209

Hi everyone,

I'm Ash, I'm in my early 30s and I'm new here. I'm looking for a little advice with regards to getting a diagnosis from anyone who has been in a similar position.

Following a series of events, it came to my realisation that I likely have Aspergers syndrome. I got a referral from my GP last year and finally had a screening assessment with an Aspergbers & ADHD specialist last week. This screening session confirmed that it is in fact likely that I have Aspergers but also possibly ADHD, which would also explain A LOT. Anyway, at the end of the session I was left with 3 options.

1) Seek a ful diagnosis, which has a 1 year waiting list, after which I wouldn't get support as it is already apparently that I am 'functional'.

2) Seek an 'extended diagnosis' which could be done in the next few months.

3) Go private.

I'm trying to determine which option is best for me and I will soon be asking the clinical psychologist for advice on how best to proceed. My situation is complicated by the fact that both my parents are dead and I never grew up around any other family so I have no one who can supply childhood development history which apparently is necessary for a full diagnosis. This confuses me because I've been given the option of a 'full' diagnosis without childhood history - do I still end up with a diagnosis?

Having received confirmation of my options in writing, this 'extended diagnosis' was referred to as an 'extended screening', which doesn't require input from family but now makes me uncertain if it is in fact a diagnosis and indeed if there is any way at all for me to attain a 'real' diagnosis. 

I just wondered if any of you had any similar struggles or any thoughts on how you'd proceed. Again, I will be seeking clarification on some of this stuff from the source, but I just thought it would be nice to see if there were any tips or tricks from people who'd been in a similar boat or knew more about this stuff than I do.

Thanks!

Parents
  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Hi Ash,

    Parental evidence is not necessary for a diagnosis, my parents were dead too and it wasn't an issue. See community.autism.org.uk/.../"parental evidence" for more discussions on the subject.

    If you get a diagnosis then you normally get protection from the Equality Act and you would be entitled to Reasonable Adjustments in the workplace. i.e. there are real benfits to diagnosis. The main benefit to diagnosis is that you can understand yourself better and learn to react more intelligently to situations that would otherwise confuse you.

    A private diagnosis can work well but it depends on whether you are in a rush to get a diagnosis - is there a pressing need for this?

Reply
  • Former Member
    Former Member

    Hi Ash,

    Parental evidence is not necessary for a diagnosis, my parents were dead too and it wasn't an issue. See community.autism.org.uk/.../"parental evidence" for more discussions on the subject.

    If you get a diagnosis then you normally get protection from the Equality Act and you would be entitled to Reasonable Adjustments in the workplace. i.e. there are real benfits to diagnosis. The main benefit to diagnosis is that you can understand yourself better and learn to react more intelligently to situations that would otherwise confuse you.

    A private diagnosis can work well but it depends on whether you are in a rush to get a diagnosis - is there a pressing need for this?

Children
No Data