Autism / ADHD diagnosis via Zoom?!

[WhatEh]

I had heard this was happening on the news, but to be honest, I thought it must be a small, isolated amount of people…

However, upon speaking to my friend yesterday, it turns out it’s very common for the NHS to refer people for ‘remote’ diagnosis - her own DC just did their autism assessment over Zoom and was diagnosed!

I understand needing to reduce the waiting list and burden on the NHS. I can’t help feel this is totally inappropriate.

When my own DC was diagnosed with dual ASD and ADHD, so many things the psychologist picked up on were from physically seeing them. Differences in body language, eye contact, sensory differences (one of the things that alerted her was them taking their shoes off when they came in the room).

I just don’t understand how something as complex as ASD can be diagnosed over Zoom, especially when lots of the criteria relate to differences in body language and communication. I am not autistic and I communicate differently when doing a meeting in person vs online. They haven’t even met the person who they are diagnosing.

Can't seem to get rid of the strikethrough. Sorry!

We had an online assessment for ADHD for my DD. I wanted in person but we could not travel on the day, so had to either lose the money or switch to online. I was so reluctant as mine is hyperactive but very much needs to be ‘good’ for strangers. Yet just observing her for 2+ hours (albeit remote) was a clear diagnosis. Then the consultant opened the reports, the data in which confirmed all his findings.
i think it can work but only above 10 years or so.

I had an ADHD assessment on zoom last month. The psychiatrist doing the assessment commented on my lack of eye contact.