How to get an autism diagnosis in 2024 (UK)

Based off my personal experience, this is a step-by-step of how to get an adult autism diagnosis here in the UK. The process might be similar in other countries, but it is worth checking with your own countries processes.
0:00 Intro & research
1:42 Support system
2:33 NHS vs private
3:02 Calling your GP
3:50 The GP appointment
6:10 The referral
8:38 The assessment
12:15 The results
13:36 Outro & bloopers

[@Touay.]

Before contacting your GP, read up on the diagnostic criteria of autism - make notes on how you fit those criteria - give as many examples as you can. The GP will likely know NOTHING about autism but will be happy to judge you against their decades old stereotypes - you may need to give them the diagnostic criteria. Yes ... your 'job' may be to teach the GP what the diagnostic criteria are!

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

This is so true!! Thanks for sharing, hopefully it can help oithers too.

[@MrWilfAdventures]

At nearly 50 years old i got my diagnosis last week. A couple of things that might be useful for others... For the initial GP appoinent i did a load of the online AQ tests so that made the conversation easier, it also helped to highlight the sorts of behaviours i should think about and examples of which ones affect me. Where i live the NHS waiting time is over 3 years so their is a third option, when the waiting list is over 18 weeks before diagnosis you can potentially use patient choice. This meant i applied to a funding body to be assessed at a private clinic and had a much shorter wait. (Edited to remove typos)

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Super helpful tips!! I don't actually know much about patient choice (though now I see it written, it is ringing some bells), so that's very interesting to know. Thank you for sharing and well done for going through with what can be a very difficult process ❤

[@langserv]

That's very interesting Mr Wilf, and a good option for people stuck in a long waiting list.

[@rogerdayton]

I don't have autism and not in the UK. Just watched to learn more and support your channel.

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Haha that's actually the sweetest thing. Thank you!!

[@marklotinga]

Good evening, l do love your videos. I am sure that this one will be a great help. Question, at what age did you get your diagnosis?

[@ohreeta]

This is really helpful!! Also your GP telephone impression was super accurate 😂

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Ahh thank you!! 😂 I'm glad it's helpful (despite how awkward I felt at the time of filming haha) 😬

[@therealpbristow]

...Well, all except for the "tomorrow morning" part. ( In what alternate universe...?!? =:oD )

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

@@therealpbristow 😂

[@seajayyeeee8568]

Thank you so much for sharing this!! Unfortunately I have recently left the UK after 6 years of trying to make my little life work as a lone wolf, never really put enough effort into seeking the kind of help I needed for my spicy brain as apposed to just staying alive 😅 I still relate so insanely close to every way you describe your condition and I can pick out so many childhood “quirks” that my parents never fully understand but they never thought I could be neurodivergent as it’s a world that’s very foreign to them. Don’t ask how I remember this little detail but a WHILE ago on stream, you pulled your arm back across your torso and the top you were wearing rubbed against itself (the material) and you had this instant 😖 reaction, I just KNEW exactly what that feeling must have been like for you before you said anything about it (which you did) I’m the same way about textures. Glad to see you’re doing well and dealing with your tism in your own way, which is the best way imo for anyone to deal with it as it is a spectrum, not everyone is the same ❤️

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Oooh where'd you go?? I'm so happy you can relate though (just knowing I'm not the only one who feels this way) and I think it's hilarious that you can remember that, I'm certain it's happened more than once on stream 😂 obviously had no idea at the time why I reacted to things like that, but comforting that you felt my uncomfortable-ness. Good luck with your new life in a new place ❤

[@seajayyeeee8568]

@@CharlotteElizabeth3000 I’ve moved back to South Africa where I’m originally from, spent the festive season and New Year with my mum who was overjoyed to have me back after 4 years of not seeing her ❤️ In about a week I’ll be flying out to Cape Town where my sister his arranged a waitering job for me (which is terrifying but I gotta go through with it for now as she made a lot of effort for me) and I’ll be doing that for a few months until I decide what my long term plans are. Overall the move was needed, I was headed downhill really fast on my own and I needed that family connection and support. I’m sure I’ll be back for a visit as I’ve made some life-long friends that side but no plans to move back necessarily.

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

I am by no means an expert, however, I thought it might be helpful to share my personal experience of this process as a step-by-step if there is anyone struggling with where to start on this, or who is a bit anxious about what the process actually entails! ❤

[@OldTimer1970]

Took the plunge, spoke to my GP, he was brilliant. Got the ball rolling, it's not going to be easy due to complex issues during childhood, I'm classed as a Forgotten Australian, but that's another story. They have warned that it could be three years, but they are offering support.

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

I really hope you don't have to wait that long, but it's great they're offering you support for this process. Good luck!

[@OldTimer1970]

@@CharlotteElizabeth3000 I've waited over 40 years for a diagnosis that fit, so many specialists, so many tests, and it was KZbin that gave me answers, peeps like you. So remember that as you move forward with your channel, you are providing or helping to provide answers for people, and that's valuable.

[@paulmoore6345]

I have 3 Children all of them have statements and are all very different in their Autism. Is sounds daft but I have never have had an assessment. Myself, but I have thought about it

[@BilliesCraftRoom]

18 month wait to see if they will let you go on the actual waiting list. If they agree to accept you on the list the the list said 3year wait for Autism assment, 5 year wait for adhd assesment. Then further 2 years for post diagnosis convo, the annual review of meds is currently 16 months.

[@Kauffy901]

Amateur. If they say 10:52-ish, you just nod and smile, come back at 10:52, and sit there, perfectly frozen until they return. Before my assessment, I really fretted over being "too good" at masking and throwing the assessment. So, I had to remind myself to _not_ suppress any impulses-- and then during one of the parts where I was given some items to play with, I had a set of [long pause, trying to get the number accurate] seven magic markers. I found myself picking each one up and smelling it, and then laying them out in the order of the [visible light] spectrum, and the whole time I just kept thinking "Do I _want_ to do this, or am I doing it to seem as autistic as I think I must be?" And, because I know you're wondering this, there were three different scents, grouped as four, two, and one, and I put both the black and brown markers at the start of the colors, black, then brown, and then on to red. Brown next to red? Yeah. I don't even care! I'm a wild man!

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

I would absolutely go black, brown then red too!! Makes sense to me haha 😅 thank you for commenting ❤️

[@olliebean]

I've been told the wait is approx. 3 years from referral for a diagnostic assessment, and that was after an initial 6 month wait for a screening assessment, following which it turned out the diagnostic service doesn't consider me pre-screened and still has to put me through their own screening process - which involved them taking about 9 months to get around to sending me two questionnaires, after which I now have to wait a few more months to find out if I'm actually on their waiting list. Basically, get used to waiting.

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Wow. That's insane. I really feel for you. As I said in the video I think I was really lucky that my wait times were relatively non-existent. But that is sadly not the case for many people, and I think which part of the country you are in affects that too. Good luck and I really hope you're not having to wait too much longer.

[@langserv]

Are the "zooming" edits really necessary? They are quite jarring, and subtract, rather than add, to your presentation, imo

[@CharlotteElizabeth3000]

Thank you for your feedback 😊 I am new to making videos so I'll bear this in mind, or I won't, while I figure out better editing and what I enjoy 🤷‍♀️

[@langserv]

@@CharlotteElizabeth3000 Do you have ADHD as well as autism, or just autism like me, because people with ADHD probably like that, but people with autism-only don't.

[@langserv]

Have you thought of teeth whitening? I am doing this myself now

[@langserv]

- In your case, it may be the (yellow-coloured) lighting, because if you zoom in on your teeth in the last frame of the video, where it stops and you are smiling, half of your teeth are white & the other half look discoloured!

[@RhiannonRaven]

People can seek an assessment not a diagnosis; it is irresponsible to be telling people how to get a diagnosis. You are referred for an assessment NOT a diagnosis. If people can go and 'order' a diagnosis like they are getting a cup of coffee, or a new dress, then that makes the entire assessment process completely meaningless.