To ask about private ASD assessment?

[mither]

Has anyone any experience of a private referral for ASD?

I don't know how (GP referral I guess) or where (Tayside) or who (same CAHMS team?)

I mean it's not ok, none of it's ok, but for this situation I have already stated I'm not fussed about the agencies opinions.

Schools look down on them a bit like you are a neurotic parent- I don’t really understand why but there is a reluctance to offer any extra support.

well if you managed to get the NHS to diagnose him then well done to you. All the professionals will take your seriously.

I take it seriously but the system I work within doesn’t.

Schools don’t really take any assessments seriously; you either get good teachers who will adapt for your child or you don’t.

I think I must have misread the tone of your original post then

The schools I work in take an EHCP seriously.

Lots of services/schools do choose to take private diagnosis just as seriously as NHS diagnosis.

It’s awful that some make the decision not to do this.

The law says they have to. Doesn’t mean they do. But whatever, Dylan, I don’t really care what you and your snotty arse job thinks.

I can see why anyone would want a private diagnosis at present. It's disgusting the way some trusts treat children with postcode lotteries and ridiculous waiting times. It's a complete farce! Why should a family have to wait 2-3 years for a diagnosis? I speak as a mum with a dd who has been battling for 2 years to get school to refer but as dd masks at school (which is what girls do) they won't as they don't see it? Even though they have seen her behaviour outside of school. Why should children suffer? I have already had to pay for a private OT as our area do nothing for sensory issues other than a bloody workshop we have had every door slammed in our faces because she masks. Dr Honeywell in London is highly recommend. I don't see why anyone would refuse a diagnosis NHS or not if the sodding NHS pulled their fingers out in the first place we wouldn't be in this predicament!

The law says they have to. Doesn’t mean they do. But whatever, Dylan, I don’t really care what you and your snotty arse job thinks

Erm ... if that’s the way you speak to the school when they have said nothing offence or provocative at all I would not be surprised if you have struggled - that’s a terrible attitude to have towards me.

Mine left school some four years ago. And no, I was Ms Meek and Mild when dealing with the school. Maybe if I’d been a bit more forceful we wouldn’t be where we are now, who the heck knows. And you are the one who doesn’t take private diagnosis seriously. Blushing face my backside.

We used one in Surrey - the psychologist also worked with the local CAHMS so was happy to talk to anyone who questioned her diagnosis. When we finally got our CAHMS appt we just showed them her report and they agreed with it. Never had any issues with the school not taking it seriously etc. Paid £1200.

It is very hard though MrsDylanBlue, when people dismiss your hard fought for information, your knowledge of your child and your anxieties about what would be an appropriate schooling for your child because you have had the temerity to seek a diagnosis for yourself.

Bugger the fact that the NHS has left us high and dry.

We got a private ados assessment. Our gp gave us a referral letter. We were limited in who we could use to undertake the assessment as it was covered by our medical insurance. The school and LA have never questioned the diagnosis.

HumphreyCobblers

I don’t dispute that for a second.

The nhs waiting times (and some nhs assessments) are absolutely not okay. But equally the reason private assessments are sometimes not taken seriously is because often there is no accountability and they are just not good. Of course there are many that are but in the private sector there is little regulation. Ideally (andbit should just be ideally) an Ados assessment really shouldn’t be the only diagnostic tool. Unfortunately I hear some diagnoses are given without even an ados...
Equally echps should be about need and not diagnosis- so if your child is struggling - that matters regardless of diagnosis and rightly so.

Schools / other agencies may not want to take a private diagnosis 'seriously' but they do actually have to and those that don't can be challenged via tribunal. A diagnosis made by qualified practitioners is a legal diagnosis whether via NHS or paid for privately - the same processes are followed, clinicians must be suitably qualified etc. I hate the ridiculous idea that some professionals have that going private somehow means bribing a clinician to say a child has a diagnosis when they don't. We were lucky to get an NHS diagnosis for our daughter - but it took 3 years. If you can afford to go privately why wouldn't you?

OP

The NAS should have a list of local services, including private practitioners. If they are on that list they should have appropriate qualifications and registrations etc. If you find one elsewhere, please make sure you check they are properly registered and so on.

I think some are wary of private diagnosis, in some cases they are right to be, in others they are not. In my own field (not psych/CAMHS), I know of patients paying to go to Harley Street/Other private providers, thinking that they are "the best" because of how much they charge/because they are part of the private system. Not realising that anyone can pay to rent consulting rooms on Harley Street and that it really doesn't mean they are the best (though should be competent, given they are regulated). Except they have not found them to be as good as expected. Similarly for private hospitals. Although admittedly, you can be seen quickly, which for some people saves angst/discomfort and so on.

There are some who feel that there is more pressure to give a diagnosis pleasing to the patient if it's private (e.g. as they do rely to some extent on word of mouth). I think on the whole this is not the case, as they still have to abide by professional standards. But I would expect the same assessment process, which I understand to be lengthy and quite involved. If it isn't, then I would wonder if it is as reliable.

The county we live in will not accept private diagnoses for educational purposes. I've no idea whether these things are decided county by county or it is a nationwide thing.

Legally they should.

We went to see Dr Keen she works in St Georges but does a day a week private on Harley Street. Cost £950 , would highly recommend her. We did keep both our dc on the nhs pathway though because of school etc.

In the NHS there is a multi - disciplinary team, so different professionals involved maybe Speech and Language Therapy, Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Paediatrician working together on different aspects of the assessment and the different expertise from such a team is more likely to enable a robust assessment process. The danger of single private practioner is that you miss out on the rich diagnostic discussion you might get with an NHS team.

What Jacks said - totally.

Always met with an eye roll IME and always mentioned that it was a private diagnosis.

This isn’t me I am taking about the field I work in, is often the kids that have traits or lower end.

I sometimes to question if it is very mild what the diagnosis is actually going to give the parent/child.

I sometimes to question if it is very mild what the diagnosis is actually going to give the parent/child.

An explanation.