Private autism assessment

[Domino1]

Hi. Does anyone have any experience of a good private autism provider for my DD? NHS route is 2 years. GP very supportive but can't recommend or suggest so down to google & pot luck. Suggestions of ones you've tried & tested much appreciated. Thank you.

I live too far from you to be able to recommend anywhere, but wanted to comment to say that my daughter was assessed privately about a year ago now. Waiting lists here are now 3 years but we were at crisis point with my DD self harming and being completely ostracised at school by peers and their parents, I knew we could not wait.

I think we were quite lucky because the company we used was in its infancy so did not have a waiting list, but the psychologists, SALT and paediatrician are all long standing members of the local nhs assessment team with an excellent reputation. I personally know a school SENCO and Ed Psych who recommended them to me.

We have never had a problem with the diagnosis being recognised, my DD was seen by an NHS paediatrician to check for comorbidities about 3 months after the initial diagnosis and we have also had NHS SALT involvement. The school have advised my DD won't meet threshold for an EHCP but she has lots of support throughout the day, similar to those with an EHCP for autism.

Also to add, I asked LOTS of questions about how they assess girls before committing to using them, I would suggest you do the same. If we lived closer to Lorna Wing I would have used them, but then that would have thrown up issues for us as we didn't tell DD she was being assessed until after diagnosis. That may or may not be the case for you with your DD as she is older (my DD was just 9 when assessed).

@Atozofpoodles

Depends were you are? I can recommend somewhere in Essex.

Can you recommend for me please. Thinking of getting ds1 assessed. Some traits. Get more pronounced the older he gets (nearly 16).

Everleif in South Buckinghamshire are full until Easter and then taking names for their summer term waiting list in January.

@Sugarandtime

Everleif in South Buckinghamshire are full until Easter and then taking names for their summer term waiting list in January.

Oh dear, that's a shame. But NHS support round here is beyond creaking so I'm not surprised.

Essex Autism service

Every Mind Child Psychology near Reading are really good if you don't mind travelling. Liz Dawes used to work with Everlief, and we followed her when she set up her own practice (nothing against Everlief, they were great, but my daughter had built up a good rapport with her).

This is such a useful thread. Thank you to everyone who is contributing...

Has anyone found that they've been able to use private health insurance for these assessments? We have Bupa and are just at the start of the process for our 13 year old DS.

@ChristmasLightLover

This is such a useful thread. Thank you to everyone who is contributing...

Has anyone found that they've been able to use private health insurance for these assessments? We have Bupa and are just at the start of the process for our 13 year old DS.

Yes the place I mentioned upthread accepts insurance so I assume most will

Adult female recommendations? My 12 yr old is diagnosedn(nhs) pretty sure 9 yesr old is too but wouldn't pass threshold. I want to know for myself re adhd and autism but cant afford 3k.

Thank you @Titsywoo - fab name.

Has anyone on this thread made any progress? I spoke with BUPA today. Apparently it's a global exception in section 20 to not provide this type of testing so we will need to fund everything ourselves.

Does anyone have insurance which does cover this please?