18 year old DD

[DustyLee123]

My DD has been young for her age throughout high school and college. Has a few friends but they never come to our house, she does not drink alcohol or socialise anything like you’d expect an 18 year old to. No boyfriend or signs of any interest tnere.
Recently took her to GP with the anxiety she has had for some years, where she would say she was ill, yet now we realise she was having anxiety.
Refuses to go on holiday or even have a night away.
Now when I think about it she has always disliked loud places, wouldn’t go to a concert. Never liked the pictures.
How do we move forward, there are small things that could point to ASD, but some don’t. I know it can be different in girls so I’d like an assessment, how do I go about it at this age ?

And I do think she would have it done, do I go through college or get it done privately ?
If privately, where do I find that ?
Thanks.

You/DD can ask the GP for a NHS referral.

It is also possible to go private if that’s what you want. You could look to see who does NHS assessments looking and check whether they do private work too. Alternatively, the Lorna Wing is excellent at assessing women. Psychiatry UK seems to have good reviews too.

GP referred for MH assessment, as she wasn’t suicidal they just gave on line CBT.
Think we’d prefer through college or private. Just want to make sure we get it right.

DD’s college is unlikely to be able to refer for an NHS adult autism assessment.

I didn’t know it was NHS, assumed it was done via SEN department in schools/college.

You should Google Right To Choose. I’m not sure whether they do adults but basically you have a right to choose where you have your assessment and there is a list of private clinics in the scheme. One is Evolve Psychology in Harrogate. If you contact them they will send you a letter to give the GP asking to be referred. Then the GP refers you, the clinic send a load of checklists, then they do the assessment and the NHS pays. We have gone that way for my 16 year old’s ADHD assessment and the waiting list is only 6 months.

Schools and colleges can’t diagnose. For children, they refer on to the NHS, but I haven’t come across an adult service that accepts referrals from schools/colleges (although I can’t say for certain none do, which is why I said unlikely).