..to ask if you were diagnosed as an adult with Autism or ADHD....

[UltraVioletRays]

What was the process and was your GP reluctant/obstructive to referring you....and how long did it take you to get a diagnosis?

I'm waiting for ADHD nhs assessment. Wait in my area is about 3 years so still a year to go (unfortunately I fear covid has probably extended that). It was actually instigated by my doctor when I went to see her about menopause. Seemingly menopause can really exaggerate adhd symptoms.

Took me ages to go to the GP. GP was fine, referred me saying it was good to know, in case of problems later. Opted for a private assessment, GP won't do shared care tho, so I'm stuck now. Think I might get another assessment at some point. Menopause does make adhd worse!

Took maybe two and a half years from start to finish. GP was immediately helpful, gave me an AQ10 and referred me straight away. Adult services are stretched in my part of the country so it was a couple of months before I heard back from them - I had a long questionnaire to fill in which formed the basis of my interview about 10 months later. Mine was slowed due to COVID also, so there were months between my first and follow up appointment (and then a second follow up appointment because I was so incredibly unimpressed with the occupational therapist who led the follow up).

Based on my experience I think it’s worth going through but I assume it varies enormously across the country.

I was referred via Right to Choose (which I believe has got very busy recently due to it becoming more well known but is still very quick compared to the NHS waiting lists) to Psychiatry UK. Basically under the NHS constitution you have the right to choose your mental health provider - that's the gist anyway - and P-UK are an approved provider, regardless of where you live in the UK. So you are referred by your GP and your CCG pays for it. Back when I was diagnosed a year ago it took a week from referral to starting medication, but I think it's about 4 months all in now - still much quicker than my local NHS waiting list of 2.5 years.

So I was worried about them being unwilling to refer me for ADHD and actually, the doctor immediately agreed I merited referral, it was explaining the Right to Choose referral route that I got pushback on (which is common).

Would definitely check out P-UK's website and their page on RTC if it's an ADHD assessment you're after. (Also, @Thingsdogetbetter - ask your GP to change your referral and don't take no for an answer - it's your legal right and will be quicker!).

If you want an autism referral near me it's also a very long waiting list I think, but I'm not sure.

I was pleasantly surprised how open to referring for adult ADHD (I didn't have a child diagnosis for various reasons) my doctor was, but having spoken to others who got adult diagnoses that varies massively. It helps if you can find one of the official diagnostic self-report scales they use ahead of the appointment and fill that in, plus go armed with info and examples of how it affects your life. My GP does online appointment booking where you can attach files, so I attached that to give them chance to look over it before my (virtual) appointment, that helped set the scene for them so I wasn't talking over myself and forgetting what I wanted to say.

My GP said “you don’t look autistic” and wouldn’t refer me. I went private and have recently been diagnosed. The clinical psychologist was horrified at what the GP said.

I was v nervous before seeing my GP, but she was fine, happy to refer me.

The clinic sent out a load of assessment forms within a few weeks and then I was seen (and diagnosed - adhd) a few weeks after that.

I think it was about 6 months between seeing the GP and starting treatment. I think that is unusually fast though.

It was a psychiatrist that referred me and he was very reluctant. Said that I wasn't autistic and there would be no point in the assessment.

Waiting list was about 18 months. Two assessment appointments and got confirmed with the diagnosis at the second. In my area, ADHD and autism are assessed separately so I've just had the autism assessed. Would have to go back to the GP to pursue an ADHD diagnosis.

I was able to self refer into adult autism services. I filled in initial forms, had telephone call, then appointment, was asked to take someone who knew me from childhood with e. We were interviewed separately, then I was invited for another appointment where I was diagnosed. About 6 months all in, so s much quicker than my daughter s diagnosis which took at least 3 years on waiting lists and at least 2 years before that trying to get her onto waiting lists and in front of the right people. Went private with my son, 3 weeks, the system is beyond broken, I'm well aware of the privilege I have in being able to go private. It shouldn't have to be this hard.