I have just been advised the Autism Assessments are 18 mths (if your lucky) to 2 years and on top of that the school are only assigned so many hours, so that to have someone from the team come in and write a report it takes another 3 to 5 mths July/Sept. So he wouldn't get it till he leaves 6th form.
I ask myself, is it worth it?
In thought wait times in US were unacceptable…4-6 months for a specialist…but what I read here about other countries blows my mind.
Do you have any other options?
Yes, it is. People with the diagnosis can opt for different learning environments and are able to participate in life more (eg in autism friendly events). The wait times are horrific and I would certainly ask what can be done to speed up the process since delayed diagnoses can result in iatrogenic harm. From the altruistic perspective the more we know about the overlap between autism and FND the better.
I just found this article on iatrogenic harm, you may be able to get full access:
LIVED EXPERIENCE NARRATIVE
Escaping iatrogenic harm: A journey into mental health service avoidance
Wren Aves
But pretty sure it talks about attitudes amongst other things. It goes back to people disbelieving and the damage it can cause.
Thanks and although I couldn't get full access I totally understand the ideas involved and have had friends be treated so badly by mental health services that they've become suicidal or made suicide attempts. The only time I felt suicidal with MdDS was after two consultations with a neuropsychiatrist at 'the sleep clinic' who lied to me and about me on more than one occasion and did the whole medical gaslighting thing at me in the process.
Its shocking and I am glad you are here to tell the tell. Some probably shouldn't be practising.
Ps. I think its bad enough that the initial response/non believing/your wasting our time/its all in your head, I hear some people have experienced is bad enough but when you go all through the system to the top Specialists . .. and nothing (or worse still your experience), some major shake up is needed.
Hi Lady4,
I think it is worth getting the autism assessment and sorry if I worded my response unclearly. I hate it when people have to go private for this diagnosis but delayed diagnoses nearly always result in iatrogenic harm so if you can afford it, it could be very worthwhile in the long run. I was interested to note that FND Portal mentioned autism in his Cadenza but note that he cited Bell, not Kanaan in his bibliography, so he may not be aware that the term 'functional' means 'hysterical' (see 'the function of 'functional' a mixed methods review ffi) and is used to convey one meaning to patients and another to our doctors so mitigates against the Patients as Partners era of medicine. He may also not have read Kanaan's commentary which accompanied the FND Subtypes paper, which I've read in full and it gives me the shudders (metaphorically).
Re my experiences at the Sleep Clinic regarding further testing (which I hadn't asked for) - the 'hidden curricula' about FND at the time (which I didn't find out for some time) was to tell patients that no further testing was necessary and that it was important for them to accept that no further diagnosis would emerge. This has been problematic for people with rare conditions for many years, especially since it is neigh on impossible to find out what the diagnostic criteria are for FND at any given time.
Autism, Trauma, PTSD and FND
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The Dr literally shut down .... 
Is it FND? Do I have rights to request other elimination tests?
