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Original poster

Private Autism Assessment - Preferably with experience of women

40 replies

SENMumoftwo · 23/01/2016 21:44

Hi all

I am just wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of an appropriate professional.

I'm looking (ideally) in the North West region.

I'd love to know what it entails and any of your experiences - good or bad!

OP posts:
Cookingwine · 25/01/2016 21:47

We are about to go to the Lorna Wing Centre (South East though) for DD, they specialise in girls/women I believe and it is supposed to be very good.

Original poster
SENMumoftwo · 25/01/2016 22:30

Thank you. Could you tell me how you got the referral? How long was your wait? Who did they need info from? Sorry for the questions. Feel free to pm if you'd rather not publicly say.

I'm in my 30's and can't move on until I know for sure (rather than self-diagnosing).

OP posts:
Allofaflumble · 25/01/2016 23:55

You can self refer to the Lorna Wing centre but you will have to pay. Or you can try and get your doctors to. Not sure how likely this is?

Cookingwine · 26/01/2016 00:48

We self referred, the waiting list was 4 months. They also accept NHS referrals. The National autism service could be able to help.

Original poster
SENMumoftwo · 27/01/2016 13:31

Thank you both. I'm a nightmare and once I've made my mind up about something, I want it yesterday. Blush

OP posts:
PhilPhilConnors · 27/01/2016 23:07

I was recommended this lady by someone who received ADOS training form her.
I was told she was based in Cumbria, but I think she also travels to other areas.
I don't know any more about her though, sorry!

Original poster
SENMumoftwo · 28/01/2016 10:40

Thank you Phil. I like that they mention women with autism a few times on there. I'll contact her to see if it's suitable for me.

OP posts:
hiddenhome2 · 02/02/2016 19:58

I was assessed by Fiona (spectrum consultancy) SEN and she was great. Very thorough and knowledgeable. I would recommend her.

Original poster
SENMumoftwo · 03/02/2016 11:55

Thank you hidden, I'll look her up also.

OP posts:
ProudAS · 04/02/2016 14:33

I'd recommend NAS but they were in Kent when I visited

Original poster
SENMumoftwo · 04/02/2016 14:48

I hadn't even thought of contacting them about myself. I've used them lots with my ASD child! Thanks!

OP posts:
Stormsurfer · 05/02/2016 17:53

Hi, just wondering if any of you can share the advantages and disadvantages of being diagnosed with ASD/Aspergers as an adult. I'm particularly interested in hearing about experiences of females, and especially mothers. Trying to decide whether to go forward with the diagnosis process for myself. Thank you.

Cookingwine · 05/02/2016 18:10

Same here.

hiddenhome2 · 05/02/2016 18:12

No disadvantages for me.

Lots of advantages in that I no longer feel like a weird freak woman even though I am Grin

I feel as though I belong to a community now. I don't feel lonely and isolated.

It helps me to understand myself and explains why I do and feel certain things.

It helps with putting things into context in my past - I can now understand why I did things the way I did and why I made the choices I did.

It stops me being so hard on myself Smile

Stormsurfer · 05/02/2016 18:23

Thats really helpful, hidden, thank you. I kind of guess I am at the moment, having gone through the process with DS and starting it with DD, but wasn't sure if formalizing it would make a difference.

hiddenhome2 · 05/02/2016 18:27

Go for it Stormsurfer I can't believe the difference it's made to me and others have said the same. It really opens up a whole new dimension of being for you.

Stormsurfer · 05/02/2016 18:30

hidden can I ask this? Does it in any way make you feel guilty/responsible for your children having ASD? Does it impact on your parenting?

hiddenhome2 · 05/02/2016 19:12

Yes, I do feel sorry for ds2 who goes for asd assessment next week. Ds1 is quite robust and isn't bothered about being assessed. He doesn't flag up for asd on the online tests, although he does have social anxiety.

I don't really see it as a disorder as such, more a difference in the brain's wiring system. It can come with gifts, and the ability to see the world differently and have different ideas from other folk. We're not bogged down with lots of emotional stuff either and tend to be self sufficient.

I'm encouraging ds2 to view it as a positive in every way. It impacts upon parenting in that I often feel more like a life coach than a mum and I absolutely have to remain positive even if I feel down or very tired etc. I have to keep ds2 boyant as he's prone to getting down about school and peer issues.

Do you feel bad about your kids being affected? Try not to. It has plenty of pluses if you can get the anxiety under control.

Cookingwine · 06/02/2016 22:24

I feel bad about my ASD style of parenting sometimes. I can be so blunt I do hurt the feelings of my children (and others) and I would really like that to stop. And I really dislike having their friends around so I feel I am not helping their social skills as much as I should, but I am so not sociable myself, I don't know how to do it.

ireneadler101 · 10/05/2016 12:34

Hi all,

I'm considering getting a private diagnosis at the Lorna Wing Centre - does anyone have any idea how much it will cost?

Thanks

LauraMipsum · 20/05/2016 10:25

I contacted them and they wrote back "Currently our waiting lists are approximately 4 months. The cost for a full diagnostic assessment is in the region of £2,950 costs will be confirmed once reviewed by clinical team."

It's not a trivial expense.

I went to Action for Aspergers who do a non-clinical assessment which can then be used to jumpstart the NHS process.

UnderTheStairs · 26/05/2016 11:40

I'm considering going through the diagnosis process myself (female in her 30s) I'm in the southeast so I'll look into the Lorna Wing centre.

I can afford it privately at a push but I'm wondering if anyone has ever gone through with the assessment and been found to be NT? I'm scared of that happening I guess because I'm looking for reasons to explain me not feeling "normal" and not ever fitting in.

Also, does anyone know if they are able to make a diagnosis with no input from my parents (one dead one no contact) as I've read that some centres ask for examples from parents of what you were like as a child.

Allofaflumble · 28/05/2016 07:08

Hi. I had my assessment at Lorna Wing. It was an afternoon appt and lasted about 3 hours. My parents are both dead. I am 61. My son came with me. I got my diagnosis.

Original poster
SENMumoftwo · 28/05/2016 20:48

I only had 1 parent with me, as 1 had passed away.

They do various things and see things during the chat.

I had the ADOS done too.

I got a diagnosis on the day.

This was through a Speech & Language Therapist and a Psychologist.

I was there just over 3 hours. I was completely exhausted when I came out.

OP posts:
TrixieBernadette · 13/06/2016 20:13

If you're in the SE, you can get private or NHS referrals to the Royal Marsden SLAM (south London and Maudsley) in Denmark hill. That's a one day clinic for ASD diagnosis, as well as ADHD, and they are known for their extra work and understanding of women on the spectrum.