Adult Diagnosis Help Wanted

[Adult Diagnosis Help Wanted]

I was put on the waiting list for a diagnosis after my GP sent me on a stress management course, so I don't see how anxiety stops you getting a diagnosis.

 

After a 15 month wait I have the first part of my assessment next week. It seems that in my part of Wales they have a pretty enlightened attitude to adult assessments, and will only look for evidence from childhood if the other tests are inconclusive. The whole thing seems to be set up properly, even though they're very short of resources. I just hope there's some useful support at the end of the process.

Good luck, i hope the process is more successful for you than it was for me.

[Adult Diagnosis Help Wanted]

If you would like to access a support group based in bath please private message me.

 

There is also bass in bristol, South Gloucestershire, North somerset and banes

I was diagnosed by the BASS. What I'm really trying to ask about is the process I experienced. I don't think they did the job properly.

 

Has anyone else undergone an adult diagnosis? What was the process? Did you have to read kids cartoon books and play with xmas cracker toys?

[Adult Diagnosis Help Wanted]

Hi, a couple of years ago I had a diagnosis with the Avon Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (whom the CQC recently criticised heavily). I came away without a positive result. I was told the result was inconclusive and that I needed to provide a lifelong history to examine in order to get a final result. This is not possible for me, and I believe it shouldn't have to be.

Afterward in discussion I was told the Dr would speak to the ADD department as that was mentioned as a possibility. Subsequently that never happened and when i chased it up the Dr lied and said she had no memory of agreeing to such a thing. A few months ago after discussing all this with my GP (who isn't much help either tbh) she spoke to the ADD people who said they couldn't test me because they said I suffer from anxiety. This isn't untrue, but they have no basis for making that assumption since I have never been formally diagnosed by them for anything.

The test I had IMO seemed oriented to children. Part of the test I had to look at a picture book with a visual narrative (no text) of frogs on lily pads floating through a town. I also had to pick some little toys (the sort you find in an xmas cracker) and make up a narrative that connected them. I felt self conscious and stupid. What frustrated me is that, in investigating aspergers and similar conditions (to try and make sens eo f my life's experiences and the difficulties i face) I have done a number of the online tests/quizzes that are available. While I understand these are no substitute for a proper diagnosis, they at least ask pertinent questions. I was never asked anything like, for example: "do you find making eye contact difficult" (yes).

Other tests involved looking at cutaway pictures of peoples eyes and associating an emotion from a list. I foudn this ridiculous as some of the expressions could encompass multiple emotions: laughter or surprise or even sadness.

Another test featured watching a painfully acted foreign language (and thus dubbed) interaction between people planning a dinner party. The plot was so obvious and the acting so bad I felt it unrerpesentative of any real life situation. I presume the point was to determine if i can read social situations, but it was so poorly scripted I felt it a waste of time.

I mentioned all this when discussing the result, but to no avail. I don't really understand why the tests were conducted this way and I would like to know if this is the norm for adults and what I can do in lieu of providing a full lifelong history. I can't remember my childhood with enough clarity and objectivity myself, nor do i really see why it's necessary, even if aspergers is a lifelong condition.

I'm due to be assessed for ESA soon. I have the form to fill in and without any concrete evidence I'm really going to struggle. This means facing going back to signing on/looking for work and that's not something I feel I can cope with. There's no support available and my GP vacilates between understanding where I'm coming from and then not. For example she asked me to print out the test resutls fromt he online tests I mentioned, then when I did seemed to completely lose interest.

Thanks for reading.

[Trying To Get A Diagnosis]

 

www.nldontheweb.org contains information about NLD.

 

Differences between Aspergers Disorder (US webpage) and NLD are in the section about "NLD Advanced Reading" under the heading "Aspergers Disorder vs NLD"

 

There is also the Lorna Wing Centre which can diagnose without a developmental history contact them on 020 8466 0098 or email lornawingcentre@nas.org

 

Hope you get some answers soon. A diagnosis can support an application for disability benefits but if you can describe your difficulties without a diagnosis it is possible to get benefits.

 

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk have guides on applying for ESA, DLA and PIP.

 

 

Thanks, but benefitsand work want payment to access their site and the Lorna Wing centre is the other side of the country.

 

The DWP Work Psychologist recommended i claim PIP, but there's no way on earth that I can qualify for that, IN fact there's people dying of cancer that aren't getting claims processed, I don't feel good about further clogging up the system. She seems to think I can use the money (fifty odd quid a week) to pay for something she called a 'community mentor', though i'v eno idea what she's talking about.

 

Support is just a joke.

[Trying To Get A Diagnosis]

No.

 

I am waiting for the DWP Work Psychologist i was put in contqact with in 2012 (when i was signing on) to speak to the diagnostic pyschologist, as per the former's suggestion. Unfortunately she's not particularly helpful and hasn't replied to my email of 2 weeks ago.

 

I'm not sure what else there is. The diagnostic people are simply not interested without a childhood background to analyse which I cannot give them. Is there no other option?

[Trying To Get A Diagnosis]

Hi wishface. I guess it really depends on the reasons why you want a dx. Is it to enable you to access services or just for peace of mind? Some find that finally getting a dx a brings relief after years of wondering but in practical terms it might not really change your life in any way. Some people have coped well throughout their lives and have a job and good relationships, maybe are married with children of their own. In those cases, I have to wonder what they think a dx might bring for them. If you are looking for services it could help open some doors but there is not much in the way of support for adults on the spectrum, although a firm dx could still be useful in this case.

 

Not sure that helps much!

All the best.

 

~ Mel ~

Both, particualrly in respect of dealing with the DWP (I claim ESA).

 

However I'm more concerned with getting advice as to what to do next given that I can't get a diagnosis.

[Trying To Get A Diagnosis]

I have tried to get a diagnosis because I believe I have aspergers - or something like it (I'm no expert). The process began in January and the end report was made in June. I was told they couldn't diagnose either way because of a lack of developmental/childhood history to analyse (i'm 41).

 

I have seen a DWP Work Psychologist who said I may have something called Non Verbal Learning Disorder. THis was dismissed during the diagnosis: the clinician claimed it doesn't exist. There was the possibility of a number of overlapping conditions, including ADD. My feeling is still Aspergers.

 

What options are available to me? It is important to get diagnosed, but I don't know what else I can do? I cannot get a developmental history, that is not an option.

 

(disclosure: i have posted this elsewhere).