Suspected autism - paying for private diagnosis?

Alizarin

I'm hoping someone here may be able to help me or give me some advice please!

I'm pretty sure I'm autistic, and I went to my doctor yesterday who said she thought I probably had high functioning Aspergers. However she said this it is almost impossible to get a referral for a diagnosis for an adult on the NHS in my area, and advised me to go private for a diagnosis.

I'm happy to pay for this but no idea where to start looking! Does anyone know of a website that lists private services for autism? Or does anyone have any recommendations of a service in the Wiltshire area?

Valli

Before you go shelling out any money - what would be the point of a diagnosis?

Alizarin

Purely to make my life easier!

I have real problems at work with interpersonal skills, and every year at my annual review it gets picked up on, I get told that I need to make more of an effort and I frequently end up in tears as I know this isn't something I'm physically able to do. So if I had an official diagnosis that I could tell my boss about, he'd be able to understand that I'm not able to improve my interpersonal skills, and I'd be covered under the DDA.

Valli

ah - I was racking my brain as to a purpose. Maybe, if you're in a union they could advise then.
Or contact the Autistic Society and see if they can advise.

OneYorkshireLass

The people here: http://www.oaasis.co.uk/Home might be able to help you. They'll have a list of doctors doing private assessments. Although your GP should be able to find the information for you.

Prinzessilein

It might help to 'push' your GP a little...

I had a diagnosis for ASD as an adult.

My GP agreed that I 'probably' had Asperger's Syndrome but said that he didn't feel qualified to make a formal diagnosis. He also told me that there was noone in the local area who did adult dignoses on the NHS.

I contacted the Autistic Society and found a psychiatrist just outside my local area. I asked my GP if he would be prepared to refer me there. This wasn't possible - the funding wouldn't cover a specialist outside our area. However, the GP could see I was determined to find a solution...and checked the list of 'almost' local specialists...one of them comes into our area for a couple of days a month as a consultant to the local hospital. My GP made a few phonecalls and the specialist agreed to see me - and as it was at a local hospital, it was covered by the NHS!

A firm diagnosis has been really useful. It means I have a reason for being the way I am. It means I have an answer to people (including family) who say there is nothing wrong woth me. It also makes access to some help and funding easier.

So, OP check with the Autistic Society - and then see if your GP will change their mind. (Sometimes they genuinely don't realise that specialists are available) ...if they won't, then you have the list and can check for a local private consultant.

Best of luck.

Alizarin

Thanks, I have emailed the Autistic Society requesting a list of contacts that could help me so waiting to hear back. I see my doctor fairly regularly for my depression and anxiety so I may ask her again next time I see her if I have a list!

Prinzessilein wrote: »

A firm diagnosis has been really useful. It means I have a reason for being the way I am. It means I have an answer to people (including family) who say there is nothing wrong woth me. It also makes access to some help and funding easier.

Prinzessilein, this is exactly why I want to be diagnosed - thankyou for putting this more elequently than I was able to! I'd love to be able to have a reason for my actions/personality, rather than just being dismissed as being a weirdo.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

It's unfair that these types of diagnosis can't be accessed by adults via the NHS. There are so many adults out there who struggle & who have missed out on getting a diagnosis when they were a child simply because the services either didn't exist or where not available in their area.

lilly81

I'm an adult who recently realised that I have autism. I went to the GP and was told there was no way of getting a diagnosise in Oxfordshire. I researched online and found someone in Berkshire who was funded by the NHS but would see me for a private fee.
I went back to my GP, who then reffered me to somewhere called the Ridgeway in Oxford, saying that they probably didn't do the formal assessment but that if they came back unable to help he would approach the primary care trust for funding the private session.
Luckily the ridgeway were able to formally diagnose me.
The difference it has made has been incredible!
I understand why I react in certain ways and why I find certain things diffircult, I am actually able to do more in my life then before as I can reason with myself as to why I am different.
Friends have been amazing saying they love me for me with or without the diagnosise.
I don't claim any beniefits as I'm functioning enough,
Good luck,
LillyX

skater_kat

if your GP is not helpful in referring you to an out of area clinic, or for private DX, you can write to your local primary care trust and request that this be done. There is now rights for us in law - the autism act - which you can call on, every adult is entitled to assessment and dx. you can ask for help with communicating with your gp or PCT from the local PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service). sometimes some formal prompting and menton of the law is necessary for the NHS to fulfill their duty to us. word of warning - this could be a long and draining process!

Alizarin

Just an update on this for anyone who is interested ... I went back to my GP today and she told me that she is now able to apply for funding for a diagnosis for me on the NHS! So she's putting together a case for me to forward onto the relevant people. Hopefully I should know in 5-6 weeks whether I've been awarded a diagnosis place.

She said that it's probable that my depression is linked to my autism, so is making sure she makes a big point of this in my application, and hopefully this should help!