Im an Autism and ADHD Assessor - AMA

[magictits]

I get heaps of questions about this IRL so thought I would post here and answer any questions in case they are helpful to anyone.

With you on that, my CV is an absolute sh** show if I'm honest. Even in the right field, I've not yet found the right place, although admittedly this has been whilst undiagnosed

Well you couldn't be the lead assessor without ADOS-2, ADI-R and DIVA-5 training if you wanted to look into doing that. But to be part of the MDT being a qualified nurse with an interest and specialism/experience in autism would suffice. In our service lived experience is also a huge plus. DM me and I can give you details to send your CV to us. We are always on the look out for passionate qualified people in health and social care to join the team.

flawlessflipper you didn't upset me, and Im sorry that I made you feel that way. I totally appreciate your views on this. It is just my opinion - not fact - and every one with autism feels differently. The fact the DSM has that word in there caused quite the stir on my masters course I can tell ya! Never has one word been discussed so much, lol.

As an aside many staunchly prefer disability-first language, some prefer identity-first. (Im in the latter camp). I also don't like ASC or ASD - I prefer 'autism' - but others prefer those. Language in the disability field is a tricky water to navigate, and I respect whatever the person prefers. So you've done nothing wrong and your views on this are perfectly valid.
As it goes, I change my mind over time and I used to think person-first was so pedantic, but now I prefer it.

Well if you have found the right field you are halfway there which is awesome. Trying to work out what reasonable adjustments you may need once diagnosed would be useful and then implementing those. That will help. Best of luck.

I switch between using person first and identity first language because DD2 prefers autistic and DS2&3 prefer with ASD. I don’t really mind what people use to describe me.

No. I think there has been an increase in social anxiety, depression and self-harming especially amongst teenagers. And we also obviously saw a rise in DV and child protection issues.

But rewired? no. I dont think it had any affect on autism/adhd. I don't believe you can create either if thats what you mean. I do think some situations can make it harder to cope with and some better. I think interestingly for a lot of people on the spectrum life got a lot better during covid. I think the rise in homeschooling is testament to that - people realising their kids thrived once they were out of school. Of course there would have been those with ADHD, who struggled terribly without being able to run about as much. People in flats and small homes with children with ADHD certainly will have struggled more.

Thank you @magictits
I am just diagnosed (as of last week....)
Currently self employed but with a variety of safety nets while I build it up. I don't think I can go back to working for someone else at the moment. Might change if/when I get to sorting meds out (straight onto the next waiting list!)

As I understand it, the medical model of disability considers that people who are atypical are "wrong" as they vary from the norm in problematic ways, and that this is what makes them disabled.

The social model of disability considers that it is society and the way the world is organised for the majority that disables people who are atypical, that there isn't anything inherently wrong or worse about having different abilities.

The social model of disability does not claim that autistic people are not disabled, which is what you were saying, but that society doesn't adapt enough to them. It claims that they ARE disabled - but by the arrangements of the world around them.

When you said "I am not disabled and neither are my daughters" it sounded like you were rejecting a medical model of disability, which centres the person being atypical as the problem. Many people would agree that the medical model of disability is 'blaming' and outdated. But that isn't the social model because the social model would say "my daughters and I are disabled by living in a world not set up for us" , rather than saying "my daughters and I are not disabled but the world isn't set up for us".

This question might not be something you can answer but here goes.... Would you say there are school subjects someone with an autism diagnosis should avoid? Or does it totally depend on the individual?

By way of example my eldest is dyslexic and was really struggling with French at school. I then discovered that French is particularly hard for someone with dyslexia and Spanish would have been a better choice.

No not that im aware of. But when it comes to options, Id always encourage those the child is actually interested in. Far more chance of success and a happy kid.

My dd was diagnosed by a doctor who was a specialist. I thought the final decision had to be done by an medial expert. Granted this was 10 years ago and she was very young.
Is this a new thing to cope with the backlog or always been done this way?

Yes I believe 'my daughters and I are not disabled - we are different - but the world isn't set up for our difference so therefore it can make us feel disabled sometimes but we aren't, we just need the right support, acceptance and surroundings'.

Its so interesting to me this subject. You have probably heard of the difference between the 'deaf' community and the 'Deaf' community. The lower and upper D makes all the difference in how they see themselves and manage through the world. In a nutshell the 'deaf' community consider themselves disabled, use sign language, hearing aids, government assistance etc and navigate their lives in the hearing world. Whereas the 'Deaf' community does not consider themselves disabled at all, nothing to fix or repair, wont enter into using aids, and submerges themselves in the 'Deaf' community.

Disability theory I find fascinating.

Hello @magictits
I don't know if you can answer this. We are waiting for an assessment for our DD. She has a medical condition that affects her development so she's already been kept an eye on. We filled out an ABAS form, a SRS-2 form (as did school) and a child development questionnaire) all sent by a consultant that used to see DD at the Child Development Clinic. It was following on from this that CAMHs added her to the list. The thought of having to sit and answer all those questions again in the actual assessment fill me with dread. Is that actually what happens or will it be more a physical interaction with DD herself?

Do you think ADHD is a symptom of something else (usually autism) rather than a stand alone condition?

My DB in his 50s is undiagnosed but I think he's autistic with a learning disability. I have often wondered whether it is worth him being diagnosed to help him. In the last few years he can no longer hold down a job, he is either sacked or doesnt like it and leaves. He hasn't worked most of this year. He has been supported financially by my parents mainly my lovely DM who has since passed away so a lot has come to light. Sadly she put up with a lot.

DB would however, be deeply offended to think he had what he would call an "issue" so I'm wondering if it is worth the fallout. I don't know whether him being diagnosed would help him, would it cut him any slack with employers or give him any more UC? Would it be beneficial for him to understand himself better? It makes sense that it would, but I just think he would be massively offended if we raised it.

My poor DF is giving him money each month and DB constantly emotionally blackmails us for more money. He is rude, unfeeling, manipulative and ungrateful, it's so utterly exhausting. My DM on her deathbed asked me to look after him, whilst telling me there was some money for him in the drawer at home. DB reminded me to get his money.

I just don't know what to do for the best for my DB. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I know- my (adopted) daughter has severe attachment issues. I cannot tell you how many people have mistaken this for autism.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jan/13/brother-tried-hard-get-help-tragic-results-nhs-right-to-choose-for-adhd-patients

The reckoning is here, hopefully the 'right to choose' providers using social workers to diagnose instead of doctors will all be shut down and prosecuted!

But Psychiatry UK (which is the service this lad went through) use psychiatrists. Which is what you said you thought was right and proper. So it goes against exactly what you are saying.

FWIW I agree with this article that too many clinicians that are unqualified in ADHD and Autism are performing assessments. And what I mean by that is psychiatrists and psychologists. Just because you are a 'Dr' doesn't make you qualified to give a diagnosis on Autism or ADHD. There is heaps of training needed if you are doing it right. There is guidance on it set about by NICE which we follow in my service, (using gold standard tools, using at least 2 practitioners, all staff must be qualified in those tools etc). Many private firms are just using psychs with no training though, they don't use the recommended tools, and they don't have an MDT look over each case. I have heard of some assessment being knocked up in a couple of hours - ours take weeks.

I dont think this is saying what you think its saying though.

I'm definitely not saying that social workers are more qualified to diagnose ADHD than psychiatrists, no.
🤣

If my child was assessed for ADHD I understand they'd speak to me and my child (and school?)
Would there be any tests for my child to do?
Would anyone come see her in school? (She's 12)
Would she/we speak to one person or would different people speak/deal with us?
And how many meetings with people would it take to make a decision?
My child would very likely be very shy if she met any professionals and very unlikely to volunteer information easily just because that's who she is with new people she doesn't know. Does this make a difference?

So you believe that Social Workers, Counsellors, OTs, SALTs with HCPC or SWE registration plus extra training in ADHD and Autism are less qualified than a psychiatrist with NO training in ADHD and Autism? NICE guidelines and best practice disagrees with you. The article you showed just demonstrated what happens when psychiatrists diagnose with no specialist training or use of the recommended diagnostic tools.

I don't understand why you keep going on about this, what your background is, or what skin you have in the game, but you are wrong, and NICE guidelines state you are wrong.

A psychiatrist is NOT someone who should be diagnosing ADHD or Autism without appropriate training and use of the proper diagnostic tools (ACIA, ADOS-2, ADI-R, DIVA-5, QbCheck).

We have very experienced wonderful psychiatrists and psychologists on our team who have undertaken extensive further training to be able to be involved in our assessments. They would not dream of doing the assessments without it. Even when you have there is still lots of practice and supervision to maintain a high percentage reliability needed. One I am working with at the moment has the ADHD training but not the Autism and will only do ADHD at the minute, and only for adults. So even psychiatrists disagree with you!

What is your background may I ask? And why do you feel so strongly about this, and how have you reached such a conclusion when healthcare professionals and NICE don't agree with you? Im genuinely interested (and baffled). To have such a strong opinion on something with such little knowledge of diagnostic assessments I find odd.

Yes they would speak to your child and you and your school, and there would be tests for your child.
If it was just for ADHD then there would be an assessment (DIVA-5) for your child, a developmental interview (ACIA) with you, and another test (QbCheck).

Ideally one practitioner would assess your child, and a different one would do the developmental interview. Then there would be an MDT meeting. If it was a combined assessment (ADHD and Autism) there would be a lot more assessments and interviews.

Shyness isn't a problem, we are trained to deal with that.

HTH.

I suspect, and I could be wrong, that Hobbiestwriter is suspicious that people other than psychiatrists are only being used for diagnostic assessments as a cynical ploy to reduce costs. Whereas in fact the multi agency diagnostic assessment protocol as NHS best practice has been around for at least 20 years (which is how long I have been working on a multidisciplinary diagnostic pathway as a psychologist).