Private Diagnosis

[clair]

Does anyone have any idea how much it cost to get a private diagnosis of ASD?

 

I have been told yesterday by the ed psych that it seems my son has nearly all symptoms and he will refer back to the social development team.

 

The only problem is the waiting list yet again, as he has to be re-referred. The ed psych mentioned perhaps going private so do I take this as a hint from him that he will get diagnosed? Ed Psych said that the Social Development Team only meet once a month and they only manage to get through 3 or 4 children a time.

 

I am really cross as my son has already had to wait years to get his ADHD recognised and now they say that it will probably be years before they can sort this one out. The fact that he has always been the same since he was little and that they have ruled out ASD in the past saying it is only traits infuriates me. Now he is on medication to concentrate, he just concentrates on his obsessions now and the school have picked this up.

 

To get into a decent special school that will stick to his statement means that his diagnosis needs changing. We in our area can't access the right support without a diagnosis.

 

Sorry to moan on, I have had a good cry today and now I am Mrs Angry. "watch out CAHMS here I come".

[bjkmummy]

hi, im not sure how much it should cost - i did enquire to a specialst centre in nottingham and got quoted �3000!!!!! that said i do know it can be done for a substantially cheaper amount!!!!!

[harmony]

Does anyone have any idea how much it cost to get a private diagnosis of ASD?

 

I have been told yesterday by the ed psych that it seems my son has nearly all symptoms and he will refer back to the social development team.

 

The only problem is the waiting list yet again, as he has to be re-referred. The ed psych mentioned perhaps going private so do I take this as a hint from him that he will get diagnosed? Ed Psych said that the Social Development Team only meet once a month and they only manage to get through 3 or 4 children a time.

 

I am really cross as my son has already had to wait years to get his ADHD recognised and now they say that it will probably be years before they can sort this one out. The fact that he has always been the same since he was little and that they have ruled out ASD in the past saying it is only traits infuriates me. Now he is on medication to concentrate, he just concentrates on his obsessions now and the school have picked this up.

 

To get into a decent special school that will stick to his statement means that his diagnosis needs changing. We in our area can't access the right support without a diagnosis.

 

Sorry to moan on, I have had a good cry today and now I am Mrs Angry. "watch out CAHMS here I come".

My daughter was diagnosed privately, the same consultant and his team also work for NHS, but one or two days a week they work privately. We have health insurance, so not sure of cost, but get your referal first, then phone the consultants secretary, and ask him/her of costs, they will be able to tell you. I think it will be around �150 for a first appt, then about �120 there after.

[Tally]

When I was considering it, I was advised that the cost ranges from �300 to �2000. This is for an adult. I think you would want a more thorough assessment of your son's precise difficulties and needs. Some formal support services do not recognise a private diagnosis, so you may not find it helpful in the long run.

[Kathryn]

My daughter's 4 hour assessment by a consultant Ed psych was about �750 - �800: that was 4 years ago and well worth it. Ed psychs can't officially diagnose ASD so we went to a consultant psych as well just to get the dx endorsed , that was courtesy of the NHS and so cost us nothing.

 

K x

[hazma]

My daughter's 4 hour assessment by a consultant Ed psych was about �750 - �800: that was 4 years ago and well worth it. Ed psychs can't officially diagnose ASD so we went to a consultant psych as well just to get the dx endorsed , that was courtesy of the NHS and so cost us nothing.

 

K x

[hazma]

Sorry must have quoted by mistake.I was just going to say that we are thinking also of going private.But just to query on ed psych how does that work?Do they put in writing that they think child has aspergers and then consultant agree,What if they dont agree?

[clair]

Sorry must have quoted by mistake.I was just going to say that we are thinking also of going private.But just to query on ed psych how does that work?Do they put in writing that they think child has aspergers and then consultant agree,What if they dont agree?

 

I would say that the ed psych writes a report to us as parents about our child and then we have to take it to the consultant clinical psychologist who will read it and use it as evidence. She or he will then make a decision along with their own observations. <'>

[Kathryn]

Sorry must have quoted by mistake.I was just going to say that we are thinking also of going private.But just to query on ed psych how does that work?Do they put in writing that they think child has aspergers and then consultant agree,What if they dont agree?

 

Hi Hazma,

 

I wouldn't necessarily recommend that everyone goes down the route that we did - it depends what's available in your area. In our case the private EP we chose came highly recommended and she was very well qualified and experienced- a specialist in communication disorders at a London teaching hospital. As my daughter was 15 and rapidly sliding into crisis at school, we didn't have the luxury of waiting years for help -we wanted someone who was an expert in ASD and the SEN system, who wouldn't dither over giving an opinion, and who would write a very thorough report with clear recommendations that the school could follow. We weren't disappointed (except by the school, but that's another story..). She didn't actually say outright that L had AS, the wording was something like " L's profile would be consistent with a diagnosis of AS". The consultant psych (and we asked for an out of area referral to him because he too was experienced) didn't dare disagree with such strong evidence, especially after seeing L himself several months later - she was very stressed and her behaviour was so obviously autistic nobody could have missed it.

 

I'd say that whichever professional you go to, private or NHS, make sure you get someone who knows their AS from their elbow or you will waste a lot of time.

 

K x

[NikkiSmith]

We have been for private assessments too, in Surrey if that makes any difference.

 

My partner was first and was the best �300 ever spent! That was a 75 minute appointment with a fab psychiatrist.

 

My now 5yr old cost us the same - but he was so flippin obvious you really couldn't question it!

 

3yr old cost us more because he was younger and definitley higher functioning - �490 for 90 minutes with a child psychologist and a great 4 page report!

 

Next week I am taking my 7yr old, who is really struggling at school and I've been told it will take 3 1/2 hours at a cost of �160 + VAT!

 

It's never cheap, but worth it for the lack of a waiting list and such a detailed report of what the problems are. A copy of each child's report has been sent directly to the paediatrician and they've both got their NHS diagnosis too once they eventually got an appointment.

 

 

Good luck,

Nikki.

[deeejar]

I had a private diagnosis for my 3 year old. I had a report by a SALT and a paediatrician. This pushed the nhs, previously they were denying that my son had autism, even though it was obvious. We had the usual gump about not wanting to label from them. When we went to see private salt and paed, they were shocked by how obviously he was on the spectrum. They gave my son a diagnosis of autism. Now the nhs paed has agreed, so my son now has a diagnosis.

It was definately worth it, since in my borough it is becoming very difficult to get a diagnosis, they would rather give children a diagnosis of gdd, or autistic behaviours, or the increasingly popular 'social communication disorder'.

I still had to argue even with the private dx, but I had professional evidence, so my position was stronger.

I am now going to the statementing process, and the private reports have proved invaluable.

Best of luck!

[baddad]

Does anyone have any idea how much it cost to get a private diagnosis of ASD?

 

To get into a decent special school that will stick to his statement means that his diagnosis needs changing. We in our area can't access the right support without a diagnosis.

 

 

Hi Clare -

 

Not sure from the above, but has your son already got a statement? If so, then any school he attends/is attending should be meeting the needs detailed in it, regardless of the diagnosis it contains (?) The statement should reflect his needs, and any decision about appropriate placements should be based on those needs...

That's not, of course, to say that it's a bad idea to get a private assessment, but just a heads up that the dx changing won't make any difference if the statement is an accurate reflection of needs as it is, - and if it isn't, well it needs amending anyway, regardless of the dx!

Hope that makes sense It was easier to think than write IYKWIM!

 

One other thing about private dx - you should be okay if you've got the backing of the Ed-Psych, but try and make sure that you get the assessment from a local consultant known to the LEA - Preferably a private consultation with the same person who you would see via CAMHS etc... To some LEA's a private dx from an unknown professional is regarded as so much tissue paper, which is not quite as bad as no dx but still means more fighting for 'official recognition'

 

Hope that helps