What happens if I don’t agree? Expand At the end of this process you may not agree with the decision, in which case you can request a second opinion. You can do this by: Going back to the GP. Tell them that you are not happy with the findings and that you would like to be referred elsewhere for a second opinion. Seeking a private diagnosis.
What will happen after the assessment? Expand At the point of diagnosis you should receive a written report which explains the findings of the assessment and the reasons for any conclusions drawn. You may be asked for consent for the clinician to make referrals to other services such as Occupational Therapy. You may be offered a follow up appointment within six weeks of diagnosis. If you are not offered this, you are within your rights to request one. Some areas offer a post diagnostic autism course after a diagnosis, your clinician would refer you to this.
What happens at the assessment? Expand The Assessment process may involve many different professionals for example Psychiatrist Occupational Therapist and Speech Therapist. People in your life may be involved such as previous teachers, counsellors or parents. The process could involve: Meetings to collect information regarding you Observations of you in a variety of settings Collecting reports about you from other people supporting you Medical examination Each stage of the process should be explained to you, and you should be given time to ask any questions. You can take someone with you. During the process diagnostic tools will be used, these are to help identify whether you have autism. One of the more common tools is The Diagnostic Instrument for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) you will be asked questions from your childhood about things that you did. If you can’t remember a family member can help you answer the questions.
What can the GP do? Expand At the appointment the GP may ask you about: Your developmental history Services you are involved with Factors that are associated with an increased prevalence of autism Medical history Information about previous assessments Based on the information you give and the observations made the GP may refer you for an autism assessment.
Is seeing my GP the only option? Expand There are many professionals and organisations that can provide private assessments for you. People sometimes opt for these as waiting times can sometimes be lengthy, however costs do vary.It’s also important to note that some local authorities may not accept the results of private diagnoses. They might insist upon an NHS diagnosis before they will provide services to you. For this reason, we suggest that you stay on the waiting list for an NHS assessment even if you do decide to go private.
I think I'm autistic - what do I do? Expand If you think that you may be autistic the first port of call will be your General Practitioner (GP). After the initial appointment your GP may decide to refer you on to an autism diagnostic pathway or a different pathway if appropriate. Before the appointment, make a list of all of the things that make you think you could be autistic. It could also be useful to put together a timeline of key dates, as it can be difficult to think back in time.