Private asd & adhd assessment

[Keepkondoing]

Due to crazy long waiting lists with our loa authority, I’m looking into private assessments. We’re in the south/south east. Any recommendations? I’ve had information from Connect Blue, but would be interested in other opinions.
thanks

[Kitkat712]

We used a private developmental paediatrician. We didn’t use any big company. I did a lot of research on Google finding names of doctors in
my local area and, looking at reviews. There are bound to be some decent ones in London area.
It will help if they specialise in autism and the specific age group of your child. It turned out well for us and got the diagnosis very easily.

[Nabeelah101]

Do you mind if I ask, what changed thanks to having the diagnosis? Our toddler is suspected to be on the spectrum. We can choose whether to go on a six month waiting list for some parent-focused speech and language therapy with the local SLT team, or go on the ten month waiting list for an assessment with the social communication team. Can’t do both as they overlap. Have you found having a diagnosis has helped you access services better?

[Kitkat712]

@Nabeelah101 absolutely nothing changed after the diagnosis in terms of access to support. I think the diagnosis helped us as parents more because we weren’t in limbo anymore and then I think it helps others understand our toddler better. Like at nursery I think they suspected her to be a bit naughty before her diagnosis.
But obviously support is the most important aspect at this stage, so if money is something to consider - put it into whatever you think will benefit your child most. Seems stupid that you have to choose which route to go down. My area is completely different, a standard 24 month waiting list to even have an appointment with a paediatrician. Then speech therapy is pretty much non existent here, although you do go on a years waiting list and get basically nothing at the end of it. So maybe check what the language therapy entails, as it might not be worth the wait.
Are there any local charities that can help you decide which route to go down or other parents who have been in the similar situation?