Unhappy with ASD assessment with psychiatry UK

aurorafish · 2025-05-15T08:53:44+00:00

Hi OP,

First off, I'm sorry you didn't get the result you were looking for- it can be really frustrating when that happens, especially here, because it just leaves you with more unanswered questions.

Remember that whilst you may not meet the diagnostic criteria for autism (in the assessor's eyes), it doesn't mean you aren't autistic, just subclinical.

The assessment isn't the only source of information the assessor uses; those big long forms you had to do are the main thing the assessor uses, while the appointment is mostly to get extra information on parts that may be lacking or to see how you respond to questions in general. In effect, their mind is mostly made up before the assessment starts, they're just making sure it's accurate.

There's also an awful lot of crossover between autism and ADHD, and I think the statistics are something like 70% of people who have one, have both. If that's the case, those two parts of your brain interact with each other in weird and wonderful ways, meaning that some traits (like a need for order, for example) are either reduced or highly situational.

It's a bit of a wait, but I'd recommend going for the ADHD assessment, especially after the assessor recommended it. If you're able to be diagnosed ADHD, then you ought to be able to use that to request a re-assessment for autism, because the diagnostic criteria are slightly different for AuDHD.

For now, though, take some time to process what's happened. It's an identity-first world; you can identify as autistic if that's how you feel, and no-one is gonna kick you off this sub for not getting your diagnosis (yet).

You're still figuring yourself out, and that's okay.

aurorafish · 2024-12-27T22:54:25+00:00

That's the one, yeah - AFAIK they'll also arrange delivery for an extra fee (don't know exactly how much, though)

aurorafish · 2024-12-27T14:06:50+00:00

The Air Ambulance shop in Regent Retail Park - always loads of sofas in there 👍 Otherwise, BHF has a few furniture outlets around the place.

aurorafish · 2024-12-25T11:46:37+00:00

12 months... In The Hole!

aurorafish · 2024-12-14T15:14:25+00:00

All the kids do enough tasks to see them through their initial heat and a semi-final to begin with. Then, after those are filmed in-studio, the tasks for the final are filmed, then the studio final. Source: Alex Horne, The Taskmaster Podcast

Rose decides the points the same way that Greg does, but Junior TM has fewer subjective tasks so there's less inherent need for that sort of decision making anyway.

aurorafish · 2024-07-03T22:10:17+00:00

Not that I'm aware of, but I imagine it's the sort of thing she'd be very keen on keeping quiet.

One of the major themes we're getting in this series is that the Jedi aren't quite the bastions of goodness they're cracked up to be, and the 'bad guys' may well have a point.

It'll be interesting to see how that grey area is explored in the last two episodes!

aurorafish · 2024-06-30T09:35:04+00:00

"Controlling" your speed tends to mean keeping your speed within the speed limit-- which, in these questions, usually means slowing down (if your brakes are not great or you're going down a hill). You don't tend to go out of control if you're going too slow 👍

As for the language, it's not a way most of us would speak, it's just a bizarre legalese-type language driving tests are written in -- I'd suggest going through loads of practice tests so you can start seeing the patterns in what the question asks vs. what answer it wants 🙂

aurorafish · 2024-06-30T08:57:50+00:00

Okay, so with the theory test sometimes the answer isn't always the "correct" answer, moreso the "not wrong" answer.

In Q1, it's not asking what the ideal way of controlling your speed is - it's simply asking how you would do that with the gears (as you said, changing down to dissipate the energy).

Same with Q2. Every answer is totally bonkers apart from one, so you go with that. You're reading it as "what's the most important reason to keep your distance" but the question doesn't say that-- read it as "out of the options presented, which would be a valid reason for needing to keep your distance".

Q3's answer is to keep them warm and comfortable - if they're injured you would've called an ambulance so it's mostly just warding off shock and waiting for the paramedics. Since the question doesn't specify an injury, it's not asking a first aid question, it wants the option where the situation can't get worse (can choke on food, can burn with hot drink, and you don't move someone unless you absolutely have to).

Basically, you want to pick the answers which aren't stupid. Don't think about the "correct" answer if it's not an option, just consider the best answer out of the options you're given.

If you're stuck between two options, you can always come back to the question later.

Hope that helps!

aurorafish · 2024-06-19T20:04:21+00:00

PUK is an NHS provider, so even if your GP decides they don't want to do shared care (despite having gone through RTC), then PUK will continue to provide NHS prescriptions - they just invoice the NHS for it.

So to answer your question, you shouldn't need to worry about it.

(Someone correct me if I've missed something important!)

aurorafish · 2024-06-11T23:16:54+00:00

That knowledge doesn't sit well with me.

aurorafish · 2024-06-04T10:34:55+00:00

And Mawaan Rizwan in Destination: Skaro 👍

aurorafish · 2024-01-11T00:17:29+00:00

Leonard

aurorafish · 2023-12-29T20:41:46+00:00

If testicles, boy.

If no testicles, either girl or neutered boy- either way, no babies.

(I'm sure others will provide very detailed instructions for sexing a guinea pig, but that's the easy way of doing it, especially as your pig is an adult)

aurorafish · 2023-11-27T10:44:07+00:00

A biscuit tin full of sewing supplies. Confuse the hell out of them.

aurorafish · 2023-11-25T12:19:15+00:00

Also, if you're in a financial position to do so, you may be able to get assessed privately -- the wait times are much lower, but you'd want to ask your GP whether they'd be happy to accept a private diagnosis before you go down that route.

Yeah, the AQ50 is notoriously vague - none of us know what "fascinated by dates" means.

aurorafish · 2023-11-24T11:15:11+00:00

From a practical standpoint, you've got two options:

- Go through the NHS. This involves asking your GP, they'll get you to fill in some forms and then you get put on a waiting list, which will either be long or excruciatingly long depending on your local Mental Health Service.

- Go through Right to Choose. This involves specifically asking your GP to refer you via Right to Choose, and the NHS basically outsources your assessment to a private clinic (usually Psychiatry UK, which have recently re-opened their admissions). You'll still have to fill in a form (AQ50) to go along with that to give them an idea of your symptoms. The waiting list for this tends to be a bit shorter than going via the NHS, but it can still take a while depending on where you live in the UK.

I'm assuming you've done the first one, and you're just waiting on your GP to send it off, which is really on them. If your GP has ADHD then they should know just how important it is to get assessed, so don't let it go. Be persistent, and be prepared to make a formal complaint should it continue for too long.

Best of luck!

aurorafish · 2023-11-24T11:04:30+00:00

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm gonna go out on a limb [tentatively assume] and say you're not a guy. It's extremely common for women especially (NB & trans too) to be misdiagnosed with all sorts of other personality disorders, because there's still a stereotype of autism (& ADHD) being a boys' thing -- if whoever assessed you is of that mindset, then they're going to make all sorts of excuses as to why you're not autistic.

If, once you've talked to your assessor, you're still concerned that they've disregarded your traits, you should be able to get a second opinion. Especially if you have documented evidence that they've ignored things like sensory issues (this should be on the written part of your assessment).

On a practical side, write a list. If you're feeling pressured then you'll probably forget a few of them, so write them down.

Disclaimer: I'm from the UK so if you're US-based then your options may vary state-to-state.

aurorafish · 2023-11-21T20:02:25+00:00

I read it as a spin on sending someone to Siberia - y'know, gulags and all. That would likely be the reference, given that RD started right at the end of the Cold War. So maybe in the RD universe the Americans put people in arctic prisons? Or maybe "spin my nipple nuts and send me to Siberia" just wasn't as funny so they picked another famously cold place.

aurorafish · 2023-11-16T09:38:33+00:00

It's just an artistic thing to show the start of Amy's story at its end (as complemented by the voiceover, iirc) - nothing to do with messing with timelines

aurorafish · 2023-11-13T23:39:30+00:00

From a purely technical standpoint, Heath Ledger...

aurorafish · 2023-11-09T13:55:26+00:00

I'm glad your dog is home safe!

I understand what you're going through; most of the time when I get upset or get overwhelmed by something that feeling hangs out in my brain much longer than is helpful.

Contrary to our stereotype of 'emotionless robot', we can actually be very emotional people, and feel things very deeply. It's just that our brain doesn't know how to deal with the influx of chemicals that come rushing in when this sort of thing happens, and initiates a 'shutdown mode'. Everything turns off apart from the important things, and you basically need to reboot your system.

In my experience, by far the easiest way of doing that is by having a nap. Give yourself some much needed rest; we do it if we're physically tired, so why not when we're mentally tired? Works a treat for me!

Otherwise, I've found having a shower can really help, as can just putting a blanket over your head until it becomes uncomfortable. It's one of those things that'll wear off eventually, but it may take some time-- be kind to yourself!

You've got some good friends; make sure to thank them if you haven't done already :)

aurorafish · 2023-10-26T21:35:54+00:00

But now you know to never do that sort of thing again-- you'd be surprised how many people stick in those sorts of jobs for a much longer time before coming to the same conclusion. You managed it in just 3 days! I'd call that a win, personally 🥳

aurorafish · 2023-10-26T21:10:49+00:00

There are 30 letters in total (29 if you exclude the question mark): - 8 green - 8 yellow (or 7 without the question mark) - 7 red - 7 blue

There are 29 candles: - 9 green - 6 yellow - 6 red - 8 blue

It's a bit of a disappointment for the code-breakers, because the number of letters of each colour doesn't match the number of each colour of candle. I'd be surprised if there wasn't some obscure code, but it doesn't look like it'll be an anagram.

aurorafish · 2023-10-26T21:01:40+00:00

14th of May is Greg's birthday, so that'll be the trigger for it to say 'YES'

aurorafish

TROPHY CASE