How to start ball rolling for diagnosing autism in teen

[Hairymcclarytoes]

Myself and my teen suspect autism, it's something we've not taken lightly and not rushed, but he is aware now how it's impacting his life and would like to know so he can get the support he needs. I have a doctors appointment lined up but I wondered what the average nhs process looks like. Does the dr put me in touch with someone else? Are you kept waiting for 2 years without any input until they see you? Or before they put you on the waiting list do they do a mini assessment?
Is the dr thecorrect first step?

Any advice on the start of this journey, including what the assessment looks like, will be very welcome.

I'd speak to school next

Very very long wait through camhs in our area. Many months wait for a multi-disciplinary private assessment is what we did in the end. It isn't a single clinician process. If you Google you'll get lots of information on the questionnaire, history gathering, interview and activities.

If a girl autisticgirlsnetwork.org/

Speak to the senco at school they can refer. GP will give you forms to send off yourself but you then need school to fill parts in, so it's easier to just go through school senco.

School Senco

Look up right to choose as you should be able to find someone who you can get a referral for, via the nhs, which will hopefully be faster than nhs wait times. Lots of GPs still arent aware of this so worth having a read up and finding a provider before your appointment so you have the information.

Speak to the school, my son was discharged as when they wrote to his school the school didn't respond 😏 so make sure to get the school on board and it's a 3 year wait in my area

Which local authority/area are you in OP?

If a teen, the waiting list is probably going to be longer than between now and their GCSEs.
Mine's on a two year wait and has taken four years to get that far.

Your secondary school should be able to sort a Learning Plan in the interim.

Reasonable adjustments (rest break/smaller room etc) will only apply at GCSE if they've always been the norm, so you do need to set the ball rolling with SENDCO and Exams Officer if you see that as an anticipatory need.

Your school's Learning Support Unit and Emotional Support Unit may be able to help informally, including local agencies/counselling/interventions if needed.
If anxiety is leading to school refusal then talk to the Attendance Officer.

There are parental courses available to you (stuff like the teenage brain and sensory environments) depending on your authority.

Lorna Wing centres are where you should go if you pursue a private diagnosis.

If you’re in England, look at the right to choose pathway.

Here, school or GP can refer and it’s a neurodevelopmental team rather than Camhs. Very long wait, and yes, they do just keep you waiting with no input during that time. However, there’s no input after diagnosis either.

They also don’t necessarily accept you onto the waiting list, and often don’t let you know the referral hasn’t been accepted, so you think you’re waiting on the list when you’re not 🙄

Also worth considering that depending how old the teen is, they may turn 16 while waiting and have to start again with an adult referral!