Experience of first autism assessment, felt like a benefit assessment.
So me and my sister were there, and my other sister came in towards the end of the call.
From the start he was trying to dismiss it, he opened with he doesnt understand why there has been a referral, tried to say it might be ADHD, but then later tried to pass everything off as basic depression anxiety.
He got so aggressive my elder sister popped in and started quoting NHS autism guidance to him, and he refused to explain why he was contradicting it, he wasnt happy my parents cant be involved.
There was also a lot of assumptions being made.
An assumption was made parents would have raised it with doctors.
An assumption was made GP would have picked up on it and actioned it at some point.
An assumption was made school teachers would have picked up on it.
So its like he had a utopia of a perfect system in his head.
He just couldnt understand when my sisters explained to him my parents are not interested and wont be taking part, and they have never been interested.
He repeated many questions, he asked me to explain multiple times why I think its autism, he asked me why I want a diagnosis (what kind of question is this), I asked him to explain the difference between ADHD and autism and he wouldnt give an answer. There was a lot of passive aggression. also lots of "why do you say that".
So if as expected I get discharged, do I have a right to ask for another assessment from someone else?
Comments
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Mind have told me the questions asked were not normal.
Such as why was you sent to the special school, why didnt teachers pick up on it, why did adult social care do nothing. I will get in touch with an advocacy service and try and get a second opinion.0 -
This sounds very strange. Was it an NHS assessment through your GP or a private one?
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It was done via the NHS.
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The assessor you had is clearly an idiot.
Yes, you do have the right to request another one done by a COMPETENT person.
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I've had mixed dealings with ASC here in Sheffield myself, my last social worker was excellent, right nice bloke and nothing was too much trouble for him, we were supposed to have a review meeting here last Friday dinner time with a new one, it got cancelled at literally a moment's notice because she had another meeting to attend at the same time.
Are these people really this incompetent or do they just enjoy winding me up?
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You should totally make a complaint about him, make sure to mention his anger. He needs to be struck off.
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I do really want to do it, but I feel I am hitting a roadblock.
The appointment letter has no information for complaints and appeals.
The ICB phone number for my city is cut off. I emailed them asking them to correct number and for complaints process for me e to follow.
Mind tried to find a complaints number, and could only find general enquires, they commented it has been made difficult. They found me an advocacy service as well.
It felt like he has/had some kind of resentment.0 -
Not that you shouldn't make a complaint, but my worry is that it could be held against you for a future assessment. Can another assessment be organised, before you make a complaint?
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If they don't like it when people complain, they shouldn't give us cause to in the flippin' first place.
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We don't live in a perfect world. Supposing complaining puts a black mark against the complainers name? Personally, I would concentrate on getting another assessment.
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I understand your point, but I assume a complaint of some sort would be needed to justify asking for a second opinion? Otherwise how do I approach it, I am guessing if I wait for a decision and its a discharge, then getting another assessment becomes harder as I would have to be referred again? the last one took my GP over 6 months to do it.
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You don't need to actually complain to get a second opinion, some people get second opinions because they went blank a lot and didn't have any notes prepared, others because they think the right questions weren't asked, or they found the assessor hard to understand, etc. These kinds of things can be explained without sounding like you're complaining too much.
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So what do I do, I just ring the appointments number and ask for another assessment?
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To be fair you're pretty much damned either way, if you don't make a complaint, they get away with it, if you do, you risk being punished for doing so.
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Be clear to them you want a second opinion with a different clinician and explain that you don’t feel the assessment was handled properly. Try to do it in writing if you can.
Soapy is right, it is better to get the second assessment sorted first, wait for the outcome, then make a complaint afterwards.
If they discharge you, you can go back to your GP and ask for a referral to a different service.
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My sister is on same train of thought and will handle it for me. Although if I have to do referral again, it will probably be another battle.
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WhatThe Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 5,560 ChampioningApril 21 edited April 21
Yesterday was AD10 - 10 years since receiving my autism diagnosis.
I didn't feel like celebrating as I'm pretty miserable after months of harassment from UC but it's a date I'll never forget. The first 'assessment' amounted to 30 minutes of shouting at each other and it took another two years to secure the second assessment.
There is no 'over-diagnosis' of these disorders just historical failures to recognise the traits, noteably in women. My GP ""Why do you want the diagnosis? You've managed all this time". The first guy "Why do you want the diagnosis? There's no cure".
I've been avoiding completing my ADHD assessment forms as it will bring up all the stuff I don't want to think about; the years of not being believed or understood because I'm a woman. I had removed myself from a waiting list then changed my mind as I could benefit from medication but I'm also worried that certain meds are in short supply.
If I can access the portal then I'm miserable enough to do this now. I've survived worse things.
Happy Autism Acceptance Month everyone 🙌
( we have autism awareness but the understanding and acceptance has a
littlelong way to go yet 😉2 -
worried33, I had a similar experience at my first autism assessment as outlined above. He did not want to give me the diagnosis and made this clear from the start. How can the 'experts' have missed it all those years? This what we are up against. I was as angry as you sound and more determined than ever to understand if this was the reason for a lifetime of difficulties. My teenage daughter had identified mine and I knew nothing about autism but it would explain so much!
I badgered my GP for another referral which took some persuasion but it felt like my life depended on it. The next guy was receptive and professional. I later learned that the first 'assessor' had failed to pass on any supporting evidence saying there was none. He'd also shredded a statement from my sister without me ever reading it - my parents were deceased and my only aunt had declined to help with a statement. Only my daughter believed me.
I'm not sure my parents would have understood my need for the diagnosis, either. I was estranged from my sister and suspect her letter had been quite critical of me, as she had always been! Having to ring her to ask for this support was very uncomfortable and she didn't want to do it. I suggest you try to persuade your parents to write that letter for you and present it to your GP.
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I'm so sorry you've both had such an awful experience @WhatThe and @worried33. I would definitely suggest going for another assessment @worried33 as the one you had doesn't seem to have been conducted properly.
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On second thoughts, a supporting letter from the sisters who knew you as a child should suffice.
There is often (usually/always?) a genetic factor and I'm sure my dad was autistic. Other close family members' medical conditions may give you further clues.
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