getting an adult diagnoised with as

[denny]

hi, i dont know if anyone can help, i have just got a diagnois for my son, but my question is about my husband we thought his little quirks and ways were just him, but the more we have got to know about Aspergers through our son, the more i am convinced that my husband has got it as well, and he is starting to question himself as well and things are all clicking into place for him,which is making him very unsettled as you can imagine.

my question is how easy isit to get a diagnois for an adult and will we be able to get it done on th nhs or will we have to go down the private route.

if anybody can help me i would be very grateful

 

thanks

denise

[Guest featherways]

Denise,

It is sometimes possible to get an NHS referral, but it's a bit of a 'postcode lottery' and often takes forever.

Private diagnosis isn't that easy to find either - often involves a long journey to a specialist, and it can cost anything between £400 and £1000 in the UK last time I looked, but it's quicker.

I went private for mine, and got an appointment in only two weeks, whereas the NHS would have taken up to 18 months.

[denny]

Denise,

It is sometimes possible to get an NHS referral, but it's a bit of a 'postcode lottery' and often takes forever.

Private diagnosis isn't that easy to find either - often involves a long journey to a specialist, and it can cost anything between £400 and £1000 in the UK last time I looked, but it's quicker.

I went private for mine, and got an appointment in only two weeks, whereas the NHS would have taken up to 18 months.

thanks, we have an appointment with the doctor this afternoon,so hope we are in the right postcode, if not we will be going down the private route, as my husband is so screwed up over not knowing,

[bid]

The NAS can give you a list of private specialists in your area.

 

I had an NHS referral, but it took nearly 2 years from when the idea that I might have AS was raised to finally going to a specialist clinic.

 

Just to be prepared that your DH may not have a very good experience with your local mental health team before being referred to a specialist in adult ASD dx.

 

HTH

 

Bid

[denny]

The NAS can give you a list of private specialists in your area.

 

I had an NHS referral, but it took nearly 2 years from when the idea that I might have AS was raised to finally going to a specialist clinic.

 

Just to be prepared that your DH may not have a very good experience with your local mental health team before being referred to a specialist in adult ASD dx.

 

HTH

 

Bid

just got back from the doctors, what an experience, we saw a doctor who was so patronising,straight out out med school, after arguing our point he finally said that he would refer us, so we will wait and see how long it takes,

thanks for all your help

[something_different]

yes doctors are often very patronising aren't they, hopefully once referral comes through things will progress.

Edited June 17, 2009 by something_different

[NobbyNobbs]

just got back from the doctors, what an experience, we saw a doctor who was so patronising,straight out out med school, after arguing our point he finally said that he would refer us, so we will wait and see how long it takes,

thanks for all your help

in my experience getting the referral off a GP is the hardest bit. i think i saw about 7 GPs before one would refer me. one even lied, said he had referred me but i hadn't had funding approved because it was a private place. when i finally did get referred properly, it was to the same place only it was NHS!!

[EJC]

Hi Denny,

 

I am going through a similar situation. Our youngest son age 7 was diagnosed with ADHD in Nov 08. At this time his dad started to identify with a lot of his traits. Nathan's consultant then advised us that Nathan may also have AS. The assessment for this unfortunately takes 1 year but at least Nathan is now on the waiting list. In the midst of all this though Roy ( Nathan's dad) has had a complete breakdown and is still adjusting to his medication. When I mentioned this, and all Roy's quirky traits, anger bursts etc.. to Nath's consultant he said it was possible Roy may also have AS.

We went to Roy's GP who thankfully agreed to refer him to the Liverpool Asperger's Adult Team. We are v lucky living in this postcode. It is one of the few adult AS units in the uk. They have already been out to do an "intake assessment" for Roy and agreed that he could undergo the full detailed diagnosis criteria. He has already had the appointment through. They are coming to our house on 20th Aug.

 

If you haven't got any access to this type of adult service then it is v difficult. We spent a lot of time before finding out about Roy potentially having AS "batting our heads against a brick wall" Nobody has shown any understanding of Roy other than the Dr from the adult AS team.

 

Good luck...and look after yourself xx

 

 

[denny]

Hi Denny,

 

I am going through a similar situation. Our youngest son age 7 was diagnosed with ADHD in Nov 08. At this time his dad started to identify with a lot of his traits. Nathan's consultant then advised us that Nathan may also have AS. The assessment for this unfortunately takes 1 year but at least Nathan is now on the waiting list. In the midst of all this though Roy ( Nathan's dad) has had a complete breakdown and is still adjusting to his medication. When I mentioned this, and all Roy's quirky traits, anger bursts etc.. to Nath's consultant he said it was possible Roy may also have AS.

We went to Roy's GP who thankfully agreed to refer him to the Liverpool Asperger's Adult Team. We are v lucky living in this postcode. It is one of the few adult AS units in the uk. They have already been out to do an "intake assessment" for Roy and agreed that he could undergo the full detailed diagnosis criteria. He has already had the appointment through. They are coming to our house on 20th Aug.

 

If you haven't got any access to this type of adult service then it is v difficult. We spent a lot of time before finding out about Roy potentially having AS "batting our heads against a brick wall" Nobody has shown any understanding of Roy other than the Dr from the adult AS team.

 

Good luck...and look after yourself xx

thamks you were very lucky the only way we got a referrel was that i wasn't to go out of that doctors room until he referred us, it took me about 3/4s hour but hopefully it will be worth it , it didn't take long for our son to be diagnoised, so hope we are in a good area,my husband just went to peices and to see him (he is 6'' 5'' tall)in that doctors chair loking so small and fragile was heartbreaking, he is alot better now it was just the realism that he might have it, as he said he thought other people had the problem but he now realises that itis him,so itis walking around on alot of broken eggshells but we will get through it.you just don't realise what real stress is untill you have to cope with things like this

 

[Mandapanda]

The Maudsley Hospital in London have a unit. You can look it up on internet. I work in a mental health team and the consultants refer people there so you can definitely get NHS referrals there!

 

Good luck.