By Manar Matusiak
If you feel that you or a family member might have an autistic spectrum condition it is important that you consider getting a diagnosis. For children, a diagnosis could mean early intervention support which has been shown to make a positive difference. For adults, a diagnosis can be a positive experience, making sense of difficulties they have been experiencing especially in social communication, rigid and repetitive behaviour and sensory differences. Contact your GPMost diagnoses are carried out as a result of a referral from a GP. Therefore, your first port of call is to ask your GP for a referral. It will help your GP if you go prepared. Click here for some information your GP might need to know. If your GP does not ask the questions, it will help them if you give them the information anyway. Click here for some general information about autistic spectrum conditions and here if you would like to know more about Asperger’s Syndrome. The appointment with the GP should be for this request alone and not to discuss other health issues as well. It might help the GP if you know where your local diagnosticians are based. Click here to search for a diagnostician in your area, or contact us by phone or email if you need further assistance. If you are having difficulties in getting a diagnosis through your GP, consider contacting your Local Authority to find out who is in charge of referrals to the local autism team and contact them directly. Some diagnosticians take private referrals so it is always best to contact them to find out. Getting the diagnosisMost diagnoses are carried out by a psychiatrist or a psychologist. A diagnosis can take up to a full day. It helps the diagnostician if they are told about the history of experiences. Click here to read more about autism and autistic spectrum conditions. Ask yourself if there are experiences which fit in with some of the characteristics. Once you have had the diagnosis, you should be given a written report which you can then use to help you access the support you need. Broaching the subject of diagnosis with an adult you suspect might have autism If you think an adult you know might be on the autistic spectrum and are struggling with how to broach the subject you might find this discussion thread helpful – click here. Clinical GuidelinesNICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) has published guidelines for diagnosis for both children and adults. It would be worth mentioning these guidelines to your GP when you go to ask for a diagnosis. A summary of diagnostic criteria are below. Guidelines for diagnosis for children and young peopleIn September 2011 NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) published guidelines for a diagnostic pathway for children and young people suspected of having autism. These guidelines stipulate that
Diagnostic assessments for children and young people
Clinical guidelines for diagnosis for adultsThe Autism Act, 2009, and subsequent Autism Strategy: Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives, 2010, indicate that clear and consistent pathways to diagnosis have to be developed in each area. In June 2012, NICE published guidelines entitled Autism: recognition, referral, diagnosis and management of adults on the autism spectrum hyperlink These guidelines stipulate that an assessment of possible autism should be carried out if the person has “one or more of the following –
One or more of the following:
If two or more of the above difficulties are being experience then a comprehensive assessment should be offered. A comprehensive assessment of autism would include diagnostic, risk and needs assessments. Related articlesBelow are some articles we have mentioned above which you might find useful - • 'What is Asperger’s Syndrome?', please click here to read (and print) • 'What your GP needs to know to help you get a diagnosis', please click here to read (and print) • 'Autism and your rights', please click here to read (and print) • 'Your rights to a diagnosis', please click here to read (and print) ReferencesAutism: recognition, referral and diagnosis of children and young people on the autism spectrum, NICE Clinical Guideline, 2011 Autism: recognition, referral, diagnosis and management of adults on the autism spectrum, NICE Clinical Guideline, 2012 |