Jannih

I haven't got as far as that. My GP has referred me to the local psychiatric team, as The Maudsley won't accept GP referrals. If I get through this stage of the process, then I will be referred to the Behaviour Genetics Clinic at the Maudsley

I am going for the psychiatric consultation next week, in order to get a referral to the Maudsley Hospital. One of my friends suggested that I ask you guys, what I need to expect. I know many of you have been in a similar situation. Bearing in mind my GP is behind me and endorses a referral, does that mean they just have to "rubber stamp" it or will they, being psychiatrists, ask me lots of probing questions. If so what sort of things will I be asked and can you give me advice on what sort of things to look out for ? Would they be interested in school reports etc at this stage ? This friend seems to think that they might try and pin a mental health disorder on me because they do not deal with "learning disabilities." She is being quite negative but I think she wants to prepare me for the worst scenario. I would appeciate some input from you all, especially those who took the NHS route. Thanks.

Neurotypicals can be camp as well. I think it's just who you are.

Hi Deskapsace You could ask your New Deal adviser to refer you to the Disability Employment Adviser ( DEA). You will still be on the New Deal scheme but will be treated with more leniency and given more help tailored to your needs. Has your disability been noted on their LMS computer system and does it get a mention on your Jobseekers Agreement (JSAG). If not get your JSAG updated to include that you are dyslexic and dyspraxic and any restrictions ie. a person with dyslexia should be able to exempt themselves from a job that requires plenty of paperwork. If you refuse a job and it matches what you have on the JSAG, the adviser can send it up to a decision maker who might decide you didn't have good cause to refuse the job, thereby leading to a suspension of your benefits. With regard to the Jobsearch Log (ES4), you are not obliged to complete this. However, as you are in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance you must provide some evidence of Jobsearching. One suggestion would be to take in newspaper cuttings of jobs that you have applied for or phoned up about. You could also print off a list from your computer of job applications on internet websites or you can just tell her what you have done. If you do it verbally, be specific - Don't say " I had an interview for a warehouse job but can't remember the name of the employer", otherwise she might think you are lying ! It sometimes happens that you have looked and not found anything. It is OK to say you have looked and have been unsuccessful in the last 2 weeks as long as you have done at least three things eg looked on internet job sites, asked friends /ex colleagues and looked in newspapers. Your adviser is there to get you back into work, she would not be doing her job if she didn't bother with you. Work Trials are very good as you can try a job out and if at the end of the work trial you decide it's not for you, you can leave it and your benefits will NOT be stopped. To summarise it : Include information of your disability on your JSAG Ask to be referred to the DEA Alternatively you could ask your doctor if he would support you in claiming Employment Support Allowance (give you a sick certificate ) then you would not be required to sign on. All the best

It's the biscuit crumbs that get me. I turn the keyboard upside down and tap it until the biscuit crumbs fall out. My keyboard signed the pledge, so alcohol is not a problem. I will, now leave my keyboard, so it does not see me, and have a swig of wine !

Sorry to hear about your bereavement. Your kitty is in a lovely place, free of pain, and you are a stronger person for dealing with this situation. My thoughts are with you. Jannih

Sorry to hear about your poorly Kiity. It sounds like she may be suffering. You are probably doing the right thing. Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Those statistics are quite shocking. It makes me wonder, whether its worth going for a diagnosis. I have a NHS psychiatric referral booked for April. I have no idea what knowledge this psychiatrist will have regarding ASD in females. I have to be seen by this person first in order to get a referral for the Maudsley. Bid and Tally --- You both said you were seen at SBC's clinic in Cambridge. Was that a private consultation and did you have to be referred by a NHS Psychiatrist ?

I saw it advertised but could not understand why it should be so expensive. Did it include a 3 course meal ?

Or Bradley's grand dad. Maybe he's just pretending he's had a stroke.

Bobby ??? What ??? Ian Beale's sprog ???

I think it was the ex-wife Glenda. What was she doing, coming out of the woodwork after all those years ! Her name is never mentioned as a suspect, so I think it's her.

She sounds like one desperate woman, bringing up 2 autistic boys with no support from social services or those around her. I think the women who deliberately murder their children with evil intent are a very tiny minority Although it must have been difficult for the neighbours, experiencing vandalism etc. It appears that no one showed any signs of friendship towards her. As an Asian woman with English neighbours, it is possible that she felt very alienated and this probably compounded her unhappiness. I feel for her and her poor children. Let's hope the truth comes out and she gets a fair trial, whichever way it goes.

It was more than just a pig-out. There was some serious socialising and girlie chats going on ! Thanks every one for a lovely time. Lets do it again, sometime. Jannih

See ya. I am sitting here with wet hair, and it is 10.28hrs, but I shall be there !

Hi Baranigirl, Sorry to hear you are having problems, trying to obtain DLA for this person. Just a few pointers that you might find helpful if you apply again or go for a reconsideration: It helps to have a diagnosis but it is not a necessity. A friend who had an undiagnosed physical condition managed to get it. It was 11 years before the Docs gave her a diagnosis. It is not means tested Workers can claim it and they might also be eligible for working tax credit with a disability premium. Always complete the form according to how he is on a bad day. Try to read between the lines. An example: Question - Can he cook a meal for himself. You need to consider whether he can prepare a meal from scratch, cut and prepare ingredients, put it in the oven, take it out and eat it. Is he clumsy with a knife when peeling and cutting veg, does he have sensory problems whereby he might not know how hot the cooking dish is, when handling it. He might not have any of these problems, but if left to his own devices would he live on junk food or eat the same food everyday. If that is the case, then he needs supervision and he cannot prepare a meal for himself Try and find someone who has experience and knowledge of the benefits system, to assist you with the forms eg CAB, disability rights organisations, social worker or even someone who has successfully claimed DLA and done battle with the DWP over the years !!

You were right, Mumble. I had a copy of a letter from The Maudsely saying that I had to be referred by a psychiatrist / psychologist. I saw my new GP today, with some trepidation, but he was OK and did not try to fob me off. He is going to do a psych. referral for me. He said that my previous GP, who retired in the New Year, wrote a very informative letter about me, to the Maudsley. I asked him for a copy of it. He obliged and printed it off for me. She had quoted almost word for word everything I said, using the examples I gave her. I was very impressed. I feel sorry for the new GP as the previous one will be a hard act to follow.

I'm really confused now. I was told that we are now meeting in Covent Garden and not Waterloo. Is everyone aware of this change, and when was it decided ?

Could it be a disturbance in the temporal lobe of the brain ? Several years ago, my sister used to say that she could smell lavender, when there was no lavender or lavender smell. An EEG detected a disturbance in her temporal lobe.The temporal lobe amongst other things controls the olfactory (smell) sense.

My Results are: Autism quotient = 35 ( on the ASD spectrum) Emotional Quotient = 22 (bad score,not good at all, puts me on the spectrum again - thought I might do better) Systemising Quotient = 19 ( a good NT score ) Expected this score, but I never did identify with the idea of the "extreme male brain). I think this might be the area where where girls /women are missing out and slipping off the radar. I might not be able to recite a a page of telephone numbers but I can reel off the Kings and Queens of England ( minus dates) from Egbert to Elizabeth 2 and I know all the Gods/Goddesses In Greek/Roman/ Norse mythology and what they represent etc.etc. Mind in Eyes Test = a good NT score 24. I'm glad I had a decent score here as it means my life is a little bit more easier than I thought

Neurotypicals will be on "The spectrum." If they score between 15-18, they will fall in the neurotypical range. If they score over 30, then they are considered to be in the autistic range. Most people will have an autistic trait, which will give them a higher score but it might not bring them into the autistic range.

Well, I might be an oldie, but I will be happy to travel to NZ, and Gordie may be pleasantly surprised !!!!! )

Me too. I don't think Pizza Express will be overrun by the Valentine Lovebirds. So we should be OK.

I don't think it implies there is a mental illness. If it does get me a shrink, now ! Likewise if someone has social anxiety, it does not mean that they are on the ASD spectrum. Someone who is religious, will inevitably have dreams of a religious nature at some stage in their life. Sometimes those dreams may be pleasant and sometimes nightmarish in character, depending on that person's emotional state at the time. If these dreams are such, that they are impinging on life in general, then maybe a psychiatric opinion should be sought, eg. if he is afraid to go to bed or the dreams dominate his waking life, whereby he can think of nothing else. Otherwise just offer your motherly support and listen to him, even when you don't know what to say.

Like you, I have no doubt that he was genuinely helped. I don't blame the parents for writing a book and making a few quid from that. After all it is a "human interest" story. As long as it is not touted as a " cure for all" then it should be OK. What I find distasteful are these weekends costing £850 a time, for something that might not work, causing disillusionment for parents who, might be desperately searching for a "cure".