Sheffield Asperger's service.

[Guineapigged]

Did anybody go here for their assessment? This is where I will have my assessment in May.

I am nervous because I still don't know what exactly happens in an assessment and it seems to vary from place to place. Therefore I would be grateful if anybody who has been assessed in Sheffield could tell me what was involved.

 

 

Thank you

[Dartman]

I have been to this service, as I live in Chesterfield. They will assess you by talking - a consultant psychologist at the Centre will talk to you privately (one-to-one) and from there, s/he will be able to tell you what sort of support you need.

 

That's from what I can remember, mind.

[LancsLad]

Had my assesment with someone from the Sheffield service when I lived there a couple of years back whilst at university.

 

Once the assesment froms had been completed, the personal assesment and one which was done by my parents I was given an appointment at one of their mental health clinics. I turned up on the day with my partner but saw the consultant psychologist on my own for about an hour and a half.

 

We started off by going through a few points on my self assesment and why I had answered in the way I did. I was aware that I was being observed very closely but it was all very informal. The conversation simply developed from the initial starting points. After some time the consultant informed me in her opinion that I did demonstrate enough to confirm in her own mind that a diagnosis of Asperger's would be her conclusion and that she would confirm this in a report which I would recieve in the following fortnight as would my GP for my medical notes. A report then arrived after a few days confirming her opinion. All felt like a massive anticlimax to be honest.

 

Guineapigged I think it is only normal to be nervous about the assesment process though it is all pretty straight forwards. This was a big thing in my life so I would not underestimate the anxiety created in having to wait for an answer one way or the other. I think the thing to do is split the two emotional responses. There is nothing to worry about in respect to the actual assesment process in my experience, there are a lot of things however to work through for many people in respect to potential outcomes. What I would say is you will get an informed response and Sheffield is possibly one of if not the most experienced centres in the UK. I would draw comfort in this fact and be prepared to respect anyoutcome. In my experience it is then a case of working through what will inevitably be a lot of questions that will be raised. This does not happen overnight rather I believe it is a slow process of gaining a better understanding of ourselves and something we all need to put time into on an almost daily basis.

 

best wishes.

[Peebs]

I went there less than a year ago. They sent my mum a developmental questionnaire in advance, and then on the day the appointment was mostly one to one. It lasted about 2 hours of chatting, and then in the last ten minutes the psychologist brought in my mum and husband. I was asked first, though, and it would have been OK if I had said no. She asked them both a handful of extra questions and then said she could give me the diagnosis there and then, so did. The report arrived about 2 weeks later, along with a copy of a letter I could use to show people (e.g. where I study) if I needed extra support. I also had a follow-up appointment six months later with a different specialist, as mine had changed jobs, and that required extra funding as my PCT had only funded diagnosis. Both psychologists were lovely and put me at ease. The building itself was quite easy to find, and there is parking for those who drive (I was given a lift the first time and went by public transport the second).