Dealing with waiting times for Autism assessment.
Hi All,
So I live in the UK and I contacted my doctor 10 months ago as I have been struggling my whole life with what I now understand to possibly be autism. I've been referred for an assessment but the wait time is 3 years. My family doesn't seem to understand why I would want a diagnosis but I want to be able to understand myself, not feel like I am odd or weird, and be able to find a community that is accepting of me. The wait feels so long, but I can't afford to go private. Has anyone else dealt with long wait times/ is currently on a waiting list? I just want to feel a little less alone in this!
@SammyLouise
You're definitely not alone in this. The wait times in the UK for an adult autism assessment are ridiculous. In my local area, the wait is anywhere from 3-5 years on average, for children it's around 2 years. Sadly there's not much that can be done about it other than waiting.
However, while you wait, self diagnosis is still valid, and you can look into ways to accommodate yourself and your needs. There are online communities you can join for support, sometimes there are local groups you can join for autistic adults (even without the official diagnosis), or if you feel it would be beneficial there are various ways to access counselling (adapted to work with ASD). That's just some stuff off the top of my head anyway..
Frustratingly, after the diagnosis, for adults, there's not really anything extra offered for support that's any different to what you can access now.
@SleepyShyCat
Thank you so much for your reply. yes, I think I'm seeking that validity that comes with diagnosis. I will definitely check out some groups so thank you :) The wait time is very long! I think the adult time is too long, but for children, who need extra support at school, 2 years is ridiculous!!