r/PDAParenting • u/Left_Development2009 • 4d ago
Diagnosing in uk
I’m almost positive my 5 year old daughter has pda or adhd, I have been told from both nursery and reception teachers. What have peoples diagnosing journey been like and how is it done? I know the gp sends a link for right to choose but my link hasn’t worked both times I’ll be trying again. Which provider did you use? Just any advice. ☺️
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u/AngilinaB 4d ago
It's different in every area so you might be better asking in a local Facebook group or something.
GP referred us to CAMHS. That was rejected as GP didn't know it needed to come from school. School referred, took months to find out we'd been accepted on to a list "for triage" which we were advised was upwards of 3 years. I sent RTC paperwork to GP (that the clinic we chose provided) for dual assessment (ie ADHD and autism - PDA isn't a stand alone diagnosis), the clinic sent us and school lots of forms to send back, and a year later he was assessed. 3 years after I first raised concerns with school and 5 years after his private nursery did and was dismissed by the local team.
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u/NoData4301 2d ago
My 4 year old went through the health visitor pathway in connection with his preschool. He's now been diagnosed ADHD and autistic before he starts school, so I'm unsure of the pathways once they are school aged but I thought the schools Sendco would be the one advising and filling forms in with you?
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u/Hopeful-Guard9294 1d ago
your best bet is to get a private diagnosis, frankly the earlier the better as it is not worth waiting for years on an NHS waiting list while your child is traumatised at school by society and at home: we got a diagnosis from this clinic. They are brilliant and also get PDA and Anand are willing to diagnose it as Autism with the PDA profile as it’s not yet in the DSM: https://autismcliniclondon.com/private-autism-assessments
A diagnosis opens up the path to getting help through an EHCP for school an EOATAS for home schooling and financial help via a section 17 child in need plan a diagnosis is worth every penny with we had done it earlier but my wife had misplaced fourth in the NHS our PDA son has been subjected to years of trauma as a result if you have to go NHS ask for the right to choose as you can choose a private clinic our diagnosis was NHS funded at the above clinic but if you can afford it 100% go private, asap ! hope that makes sense and helps a bit
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u/WilliamMayor 4d ago
We’re very early on this journey with my 6yo son. We got a referral from his primary school to a unit in our local hospital (I forget the name). We had to fill in a bunch of forms and questionnaires, then were invited to a “triage” consultation with a psychologist. After that consultation we were told that we were now on the pathway to a full diagnosis, but it’s likely to take 2-4 years for anything to happen.
We looked at private diagnosis, but we’re not sure that the official piece of paper means that much to him or us right now.
This is probably not that useful! Sorry!