Canopus Report post Posted October 16, 2005 What organisations diagnose AS in adults? My GP is of no help and has never even heard of AS. What is the outcome of a diagnosis? Do I get a certificate saying I have AS? What are the pros and cons of getting a diagnosis? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flora Report post Posted October 16, 2005 Canopus. There is a place in Cambridge (I have the link somewhere and will dig it out). I'm not sure how you get referred but I do know you have to take someone who knows you well (a parent or sibling ideally) who can answer questions on what you were like when you were growing up. If you search for cambridge autism research their is a link on the website to clinics where you will find the information you need. Lauren Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flora Report post Posted October 16, 2005 Also the NAS have a diagnostic clinic in London, which you have to have paid for by your Local Health authority. I'm currently waiting to find out if my HA will fund my youngest son going there. Your first port of call should be your GP and if you don't get anywhere with him/her go to a different one until you do. Good luck Lauren Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tally Report post Posted October 16, 2005 As an adult, you will probably not get a diagnosis on the NHS. Most doctors will feel that there is little point as your difficulties cannot be that severe if you've not needed any help until adulthood. (This, of course, is complete rubbish.) You might want to contact the NAS to ask for a leaflet about AS to show your GP. I have one titled "What is Asperger Syndrome?" which would be a good start. You could also give him a link to the NAS website. There is a section on there especially for professionals. If you do get a diagnosis, you will not get a certificate or anything like that. It will simply be stored in your medical records, in the same way as if you were diagnosed with any medical condition. All you really get is the affirmation that, in the opinion of a trained professional, you do indeed have AS. I am not sure how much use a diagnosis is, unless you need to claim benefits, or need access to support groups that require a referral from a professional. Here is a list of people who do diagnose AS in adults. Be prepared that many of them will require information from your parents, and that you will almost definitely have to foot the bill yourself. The following providers specialise in diagnosing Autism. Please remember that an entry on this list does not indicate endorsement by the NAS or the Surrey Branch. * Tony Bailey/Eric Fombonne/Pamela Yates, Children's Department, Maudesley Hospital, London SE5 Tel: 0207 703 6333 * Dr Gillian Baird, Newcomen Child Development Centre, Guys and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust St Thomas's Street, London SE1 9RT Tel: 0207-955-5000 ext: 3877. Fax: 0207-955-4950. * The Centre for Social and Communication Disorders, Elliot House, 113 Mason's Hill, Bromley, Kent BR2 9HT Tel: 0208 466 0098. Fax: 0208 466 0118. Website at http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=131&a=2239. Email: elliot.house@nas.org.uk. * Olwyn McCubbin, Clinical Psychologist, Dept of Clinical Psychology, City General Hospital, Newcastle-Under-Lyme Staffs Tel 01782 718073 Fax 01782 712176 * Jeremy Turk, Senior Lecturer in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Child Mental Health Learning Disability Service, Pathfinder Dept of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Lanesborough Wing, St George's Hospital London SW17 0RE. Tel: 0208-725-1068 Fax: 0208-725-3592 email: j.turk@sghms.ac.uk * Harper House Childrens Service, Harper Lane, Radlett, Herts.WD7 7HU. Tel 01923 857315. * Dr John Richer, Paediatric Psychology Dept., John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, OX3 9DU Telephone (direct line): 01865 220953/4 * Prof. Elizabeth Newson/Phil Christie, Early Years Centre (attached to Sutherland House School), 272 Longdale Lane, Ravenshead, Notts NG15 9AH * Dr Pat Howlin, Level 6 Hunter Wing, Department of Psychology, St Georges Hospital Medical School, London SW17 0RE. Tel: 0208-725 5603/5604 Fax: 0208-767 2741. * Dr Amitta Shah, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, 1 The Close, Dale Road, Purley, Surrey CR2 2EA. Tel: 020 8763 9383. Fax: 020 8763 9383. E-mail: amittashah@compuserve.com Has worked with the NAS at Elliot House (see above), and takes NHS and private patients. * Dr K. Puvanendran FRCP FRCPCH DCH Cons Paed Basildon Hospital, Essex. Tel. 01268 593185 Fax. 01268 593614. Can also be seen privately at The Essex Nuffield in Brentwood Essex on 01277 695695. * Professor Digby Tantum, Centre for Psychotherapeutic Studies, 16 Claremont Crescent, Sheffield, S10 2TA Tel: (Secretary) 0114 222 2979 * Professor Frazer, Ely Hospital, Cowbridge Road, Cardiff Tel. (029) 2056 2323 * Helen McConachie, Clinical Psychologist, Fleming Nuffield Unit, Burdon Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 3AE. Tel: 0191 219 6400. * Dr G Kewley, Learning Assessment Centre, 2nd Floor, 44 Springfield Road Horsham RH12 2PD. Telephone 01403 240002. An Australian paediatrician specialising in ADHD, Tourettes, Asperger. Private and expensive, but has educational psychologists to do a full assessment and diagnosis. * Lisa Blakemore-Brown, (Private Chartered Psychologist specialising in Autistic and ADHD Spectrum Disorders), Tapestry Life Centre, Brunel Science Park, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PQ. Tel: 01895 274 000 X.3228 or 01895 810 005. E-mail ltapestry@aol.com * Ruth Telfer, Pyscological Therapies Team, Sage Ward, Gulson Hospital, Gulson Road Coventry CV1 2HR. * Professor Cottrell, Academic Unit Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 12a Clarendon Road, Leeds LS2 9NN. * Dr Catherine Noone, Consultant Paediatrician, Childrens Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Mandeville Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. * Bob Walley, Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Lynebank Hospital, Halbeath Road. Dumferline, Fife KY11 4UW Tel: 01383 623623 Fax: 01383 621955. * Dr Simon Baron-Cohen, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Cambridge Lifespan Asperger Syndrome Service, Brookside Child and Family Consultation Clinic, 18d Douglas House, Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 2AH Tel. 01223 746001 , Fax. 01223 746002. This is a service for adults aged 18 and over, not for children. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shintyboy Report post Posted October 16, 2005 I have had a formal diagnosis of AS(this week in fact)at age of 40. I originally contacted my local NAS office and they did all the groundwork after half a dozen meetings with a councillor,who unofficially confirmed my thoughts. For my formal diagnosis i had a meeting with a psychiatrist in the local hospital. I had been told by NAS that it would probably take a few meetings before a decision could be made,but got one after only 35 minutes!! When i used to talk about AS,i used to feel a fraud,not having an "official" diagnosis,but this seems to have put a bit of closure to that side of it. Seeking a diagnosis is always a personal thing.In my case,my son is currently having problems which i now believe i can help him with,maybe know what to expect,having gone throught it. If anyone feels they need a diagnosis,my advice is....GO FOR IT. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NikkiSmith Report post Posted October 16, 2005 Hi there, I just wanted to add that my other half was diagnosed with AS, 5 months ago at the age of 36. We found a private clinic in Woking and the guy there worked it out with the first 15 minutes - when he had to ask him to stop talking so that he could! He wanted to put a name to the cause of his differences and I needed to know that it wasn't my imagination - he really is hard work. Nothing spectacular happened though, we paid our money, the guy wrote a report confirming it was AS and that was that. Although our GP has recently said that if my dp wants some input from him/any other services he will happily oblige! Oh and of course going through this whole process I also worked out that our 3yr old had it too! Good luck if you decide to go for it. Nikki. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LizK Report post Posted October 16, 2005 If you are very fortunate there might be an adult psychiatrist or psychologist in your locality with an interest in adult ASD. I think they are fairly few and far between and not sure they do much specifically for ASD beyond diagnosis work. I know someone whose son was diagnosed by this route when he was in his early 20s. Liz x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lil_me Report post Posted October 18, 2005 I spoke to someone last week who is being refused a diagnosis assessment due to age so I will pass on the information Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
