is private assessment accepted by NHS?

I said in another thread that I think that the common belief that a private assessment is not recognised by the NHS or other bodies is somewhat of an urban myth.  There should not be any difficulty in the diagnosis being accepted.  I was privately diagnosed and have had no trouble whatsoever.

However... there is a but here.  Just because someone is autistic does not necessarily mean they will get help from a public body afterwards.  It depends on the way a person is affected and that includes children.  Autism has a wide range of effects on the person, and this is where it comes down to whether or not help will be given.  Hopefully a private assessor will provide a useful report, stating the issues that autism causes in the particular individual.  And this will then be the basis and evidence for asking for help. 

The assessment and diagnosis criteria are quite strict, so really there should be no problem.  However, autism is so misunderstood even among doctors and professionals who often don't wish to understand the problems it can cause.  A diagnosis should be looked on as a stepping stone, not the end destination. 

Many older people are left wondering what they should do when a diagnosis is obtained, even if it is done on the NHS.  It is certainly not a magic bullet to obtain a PIP.  In children, a statement of educational need may also not be forthcoming if a school doesn't think it would be necessary in the individual circumstances.

Terms such as 'mild' and 'severe' autism are not helpful.  Someone thought to be 'mildly' autistic may have their needs not catered for.  Someone 'severely' affected may not have their abilities recognised.  Some who appear to be very severely affected are in fact very intelligent. 

Some 'therapies' for autism that teach someone to mask how they really are can be the cause of severe and chronic depression, stress and anxiety.  They do not help anyone 'grow out' of autism.  Many of the older members of this group, me included, have learned their own coping mechanisms to make themselves appear 'normal',   But I certainly have not 'grown out' of being autistic, it is always there in the background ready to show itself in its full glory when the stress of masking gets overwhelming.

I said in another thread that I think that the common belief that a private assessment is not recognised by the NHS or other bodies is somewhat of an urban myth.  There should not be any difficulty in the diagnosis being accepted.  I was privately diagnosed and have had no trouble whatsoever.

However... there is a but here.  Just because someone is autistic does not necessarily mean they will get help from a public body afterwards.  It depends on the way a person is affected and that includes children.  Autism has a wide range of effects on the person, and this is where it comes down to whether or not help will be given.  Hopefully a private assessor will provide a useful report, stating the issues that autism causes in the particular individual.  And this will then be the basis and evidence for asking for help. 

The assessment and diagnosis criteria are quite strict, so really there should be no problem.  However, autism is so misunderstood even among doctors and professionals who often don't wish to understand the problems it can cause.  A diagnosis should be looked on as a stepping stone, not the end destination. 

Many older people are left wondering what they should do when a diagnosis is obtained, even if it is done on the NHS.  It is certainly not a magic bullet to obtain a PIP.  In children, a statement of educational need may also not be forthcoming if a school doesn't think it would be necessary in the individual circumstances.

Terms such as 'mild' and 'severe' autism are not helpful.  Someone thought to be 'mildly' autistic may have their needs not catered for.  Someone 'severely' affected may not have their abilities recognised.  Some who appear to be very severely affected are in fact very intelligent. 

Some 'therapies' for autism that teach someone to mask how they really are can be the cause of severe and chronic depression, stress and anxiety.  They do not help anyone 'grow out' of autism.  Many of the older members of this group, me included, have learned their own coping mechanisms to make themselves appear 'normal',   But I certainly have not 'grown out' of being autistic, it is always there in the background ready to show itself in its full glory when the stress of masking gets overwhelming.