hsmum Report post Posted August 17, 2010 Hi, My husband has an appointment with our GP with the view of requesting a referral for assessment for ASD. We have compiled several pages of historical information and we have contacted an assessment centre that will be happy to assess DH if the GP will refer him there. DH sought referral from his old GP (now retired), but unfortunately the Dr. was not at all proactive (although he did not refuse to do it). He was referred back to adult mental health services (he has a history of mental ill health which, we are sure, has been caused at least partially through his difficulties with communication and interaction), but the psychologist who saw him was quite dismissive. The new GP seems to be quite sympathetic and is a specialist in children's medicine, so we are hopeful that she will be more familiar with ASCs than our old GP. Has anyone any experiences or advice that they could share with us which might help us with our request for an assessment? J Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paul234 Report post Posted August 30, 2010 Hi, I am 46 and just been diagnosed with Aspergers, I got as many people to help like Adult social services, advocate from Mind etc. Just keep trying, Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunflower1 Report post Posted October 2, 2010 About 5 years ago we tried to access an adult diagnosis from the NHS for my husband who was 48 at the time and in the middle of a breakdown for similar reasons you cite above. We tried the GP who said they couldn't make an ouy of area referral (there was no one in our area who had the inerest or the the expertise) so I started looking at various independent diagnositc experts. Here in the south of England at the time there were very few indeed. I searched and searched and eventually (after a few months) decided to go to Judith Gould at the The NAS Lorna Wing Centre for Autism The contact details are Elliot House 113 Masons Hill Bromley Kent BR2 9HT Tel: 020 8466 0098 Fax: 020 8466 0118 Email: www.autism.org.uk/discotraining Web link for contact: www.autism.org.uk There was a three month waiting list and it cost me all my savings £600 back then but it was worth every penny. Judith Gould was amazing (she and Lorna Wing devised the Diagnostic Interivew The Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) which is a gold standard diagnostic tool. They also were the first psychologists to closely describe Asperger Syndrome inchildren in a landmark study in 1979 that paved the way for everything we know about AS now. I suspect the diangostic assessment costs more now and there is bound to be a waiting list but if you can afford it, it is worth it as you will get a sympathetic approach and understanding all too often lacking in primary and secondary NHS care (unless you luck out and find a psychologist who is interested in AS in adults!) The outcome was that my husband, who was on the point of losing his job due to his erractic behaviour/breakdown, was instantly covered by the Disability Discrimination Act. He retained his job and they made some reasonable adjustments and he still has the job today. I am not saying that life is a bowl of cherries now but it certainly helped me to understand him and the things and appreciate the things he found hard. The diagnosis enabled him to find strategies to deal with life better. We no longer live together but are still close and very involved in the care of our children (my son has AS too!) and see each other all the time but he is able to 'escape' to his small flat when things get too much. He is through the worst of the mental health problems..he still has down days but he manages so much better now. One strong piece of advice that Judith Gould gave us was that if he decided to get any therapy for his depression/anxiety he should only try Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (problem solving therapy) as there was evidence this was helpful in adults with AS. She told him to avoid at all costs other pyschotherapeutic approaches (Fredudian etc) as this explored interpersonal relationships/early family life/emotions and feelings which is hard and sometimes impossible for people with AS to manage!. If you go via NHS mental health services for a referral, there is a chance you will end up seeing a psychotherapist which may not be helpful. My husband has never regretted the diagnosis - it has helped him understand his past and the problems he faced (being told he was bad or mad or useless/disturned when young) and it has helped the family understand him too! Good luck. I hope it works out well for you Sunflower1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hortus Report post Posted October 21, 2010 That was really interesting, sunflower. I've struggled with counselling- it just seems to go around in circles- what would have helped would have been coping mechanisms- although we never tackled AS and neither guys spotted or suggested it! Apart from the Lorna Wing, where else is good for an adult diagnosis? I'm sort of south-west [Hants/Surrey/ W.Sussex] and gearing up to visit my GP. Do you think seeing a younger Gp is a good tactic? We have an older male GP and a new young female. I wonder if as AS is something that is relatively newly 'discovered' she may be more switched on? Paul, how did you approach Mind/Social Services? Or had you an ongoing relationship with them prior to seeking a diagnosis? Any help would be great! HC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hortus Report post Posted October 21, 2010 [Grr. I've just read the Autism Socs guidance on counselling for Aspies and that's exactly the problems I experieneced with my non-CBT counsellors- I'm a bit disapointed that neither of them thought I may be AS, especially as I spent 8 weeks with one counsellor saying how anxious I was as my chair was so far from the door and could I move it as I couldn't really focus on anything else! ] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
