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I have self diagnosed Aspergers and ADHD
anicanovich
Member Posts: 7 Listener
Hello, I have self diagnosed Aspergers and ADHD and have joined a few facebook groups for support to help me start making sense of myself and my traumatic past. Would like to find peace inside and one day help others too. Look forward to meeting new people.
Replies
Senior online community officer
Senior online community officer
I did find this information on the NHS website though;
Diagnosing ASD in adults
Some people with ASD grow up without their condition being recognised, but it's never too late to get a diagnosis. Some people may be scared of being diagnosed because they feel it will "label" them, and lower other people's expectations of them.
But there are several advantages to getting a diagnosis. It helps people with the condition and their families understand ASD and decide what sort of support they need. A diagnosis may also make it easier to access autism-specific services and claim benefits.
See your GP if you think you may have ASD and ask them to refer you to a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. The National Autistic Society website has information about being diagnosed with ASD if you're an adult.
If you're already seeing a specialist for other reasons, you may want to ask them for a referral instead.
Read more about diagnosing ASD in adults and advice for adults living with ASD.
You can also read the NICE guidelines about the recognition, referral, diagnosis and management of adults on the autism spectrum (PDF, 267kb).
Senior online community officer
The first step for a formal dx is to speak to your GP and ask for a referral. You are absolutely entitled to a referral (whatever you may be told) and it is perfectly acceptable to ask to see a different GP if the first one disagrees with you. It helps to take a written list of ALL the reasons you feel you have ASD, because most GPs have very little knowledge of the condition, unfortunately. The waiting list might be long, but you should get there eventually.
The National Autistic Society has very good advice here - it is also worth googling for local ASD support groups and getting in touch with them, as they might be able to point you in the right direction with how best to access the system in your own area.
Violet
ASD advisor, Scope