I offer specialist assessment and diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Conditions (diagnostically termed ‘Autism Spectrum Disorder’) in adults and adolescents aged 17+.
Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) exist along a ‘spectrum’, with some individuals experiencing more severe difficulties than others.
ASC is characterised by difficulties in:
• Social communication
• Social interactions
• Social imagination
• Narrow/ obsessive interests
Other features of ASC include: difficulty coping with change, hypo/ hyper sensory sensitivity (e.g. noise/ sound/ touch/ light), idiosyncratic speech; difficulties understanding emotions, intense emotional outbursts.
Sometimes ASC can be ‘missed’ in females because the presentation can be more subtle and standard tests can be more biased towards typically male presentations. This can result in females experiencing a variety of alternative diagnoses or ineffective treatments over time. If you are female and think you may have an ASC, you will need a clinician who is experienced in adapting the assessment process for females. I have a clinical specialism in assessing and treating women on the autism spectrum.
The specific features of ASC can mean that managing work, forming/ maintaining a social life or relationships, coping with study or living independently are very challenging. This can give rise to recurrent low mood/ anxiety and a sense of low self-worth. Specialist assessment and diagnosis can help you understand yourself better and make recommendations to help you manage your life more effectively. It may also help you access further support or specific benefits you may be entitled to.
Additional therapy, adjusted for the needs of those with an ASC can also help to improve your mood, social skills and relationships, understand and cope with your emotions and cope with changes better.
If you think someone close to you has an ASC, you may be concerned that they are not living to their full potential or require additional support. If you suspect that your partner has an ASC you may experience them as emotionally distant or insensitive to your emotional needs at times which may be placing your relationship under strain.
If you would like to find out more about what is involved in a specialist ASC assessment or think you or someone close to you may benefit from an initial screening session to determine whether a full diagnostic assessment for ASC is required, contact me.
For further information on ASC contact the National Autistic Society