Life on the Autism Spectrum
Trying to get an autism diagnosis
Damian's GP wrote and said she couldn't do much because Damian's IQ was over 70.
Damian's GP wrote and said she couldn't do much because Damian's IQ was over 70.
Initially I went to my own GP. And I got a letter back saying she couldn’t really do much for some reason, and I obviously had an IQ above 70 which I thought it was a bit ridiculous. And so I got in touch with the [county] Autistic Trust and some other people and saw a different GP who referred me to them. Then I was put on a waiting list, and then went up to see them with my mum. And my mum was interviewed separately. We were both interviewed about my childhood and things, then in the afternoon they came back in with everyone there, and were quite unequivocal about it and said I had indicators across the board although I was obviously very capable and high functioned [laughs].
Having seen a psychiatrist who did not make the diagnosis Richard and Sue did their own research...

Having seen a psychiatrist who did not make the diagnosis Richard and Sue did their own research...
Richard: Because it’s….
Sue: Because it’s actually a charity, it is funded by a charity that particular clinic.
Richard: That improved his opinion. Although the GP had said, he had said to me, “Why do you need a diagnosis? There is no treatment.” But I mean I just backed my wife’s view on the diagnosis and for me, I also thought that I would rather be an Asperger than be wrong, weird, with no known cause. So that got us onto the system. They sent us some questionnaires, fairly lengthy questionnaires. We did those. They wanted to interview my parents, but it was far too late for that. They wanted to interview somebody who knew me as a child and with a lot of effort the best we could come up with was my younger sister. Obviously she is younger, but she had known me through part of her childhood.
Laurie followed 'step by step' the recommendations on the National Autistic Society website.

Laurie followed 'step by step' the recommendations on the National Autistic Society website.
Oliver and his parents were interviewed before the diagnosis was confirmed.
Oliver and his parents were interviewed before the diagnosis was confirmed.
The first psychiatrist Mary saw said that she interacted too well to have Asperger syndrome. The...
The first psychiatrist Mary saw said that she interacted too well to have Asperger syndrome. The...
Mark arranged a private assessment some distance from home after finding his GP, the NHS and the...
Mark arranged a private assessment some distance from home after finding his GP, the NHS and the...
Last reviewed July 2016.
Last updated November 2012.