Private assessment

[Cat24]

Has anyone had an assessment through Dyspraxia UK? I am now looking to go down this route after not much success via the NHS, but was wondering if anyone would be happy to share their experience and the process.

For example, the kind of questions in the pre-assessment questionnaire and what the assessment itself entailed. Thanks!

[Tom fod]

A representative of Dyspraxia UK spoke at the Dyspraxia Foundation Conference I attended in 2023. Not used them myself but a friend once spoke to them with a view to self funding and they weren't forcing them to sign on the dotted line and pay up, rather they were suggesting ways she might be able to secure funding.

How forward leaning is your employer on inclusivity and occupational health provision? I think for an assessment with Dyspraxia you're looking at potentially £800 - £1,000. Another option might be a specialist teacher who can do an educational assessment. PATOSS have a register of practitioners.

[Cat24]

Thanks Tom. I went with Dyspraxia UK in the end, as there didn’t seem to be too much difference in terms of price and I found them to be really helpful when I contacted them previously. I’ve had my assessment, just awaiting the report now!

If anyone else is thinking of going for an assessment with Dyspraxia UK I am happy to answer any questions about the process

[stormwell]

How did you find the process with Dyspraxia UK? What was the actual assessment like?

Looking at going with them for my assessment, just funding side of things is proving a pain.

[abbie30]

Hello I hope you don't mind me posting on here but I need some help understanding I have finale decided to get assessed for dyspraxia I have contacted my GP but after them saying they could do it and after a lot of chasing and asking they turned around and said they could not. I have had to go private and pay and a Consultant Occupational Therapist is going to assess me but here is the part I don't understand in my local hospital I am sure there must be Consultant Occupational Therapist so why do I have to pay and not get it done through NHS? Please advise me thank you.

[Tom fod]

Hello I hope you don't mind me posting on here but I need some help understanding I have finale decided to get assessed for dyspraxia I have contacted my GP but after them saying they could do it and after a lot of chasing and asking they turned around and said they could not. I have had to go private and pay and a Consultant Occupational Therapist is going to assess me but here is the part I don't understand in my local hospital I am sure there must be Consultant Occupational Therapist so why do I have to pay and not get it done through NHS? Please advise me thank you.

I suspect your NHS Trust's Integrated Care Board has no budget provisioned to pay the Consultant OT and/or they are not able (willing) to assess for Dyspraxia. As a specific learning difficulty it falls into the educational psychology sphere.

[abbie30]

Okay this makes sense it's not right but thank you for explaining. Sorry just one more question is Dyspraxia quiet a new disability as I often wonder why I did not have an assessment at school. Thank you.

[Tom fod]

Abbie

I entirely agree it's neither right or fair for people to struggle.

Awareness and recognition has generally improved but depending on when/where you were schooled and how good SEN provision was a lot of pupils slip through.

There was a bias in that it was considered something that only really affected boys (untrue). Equally
If you were sufficiently academically able they might not have seen clumsiness as indicative of your needing additional support.

Once we reach Adulthood and leave school/college behind, the challenges we face as adults are different. Coping/masking strategies we had developed/relied on at school /college may no longer serve us sufficiently well.

[abbie30]

Thank you it is so sad and frustrating for people. I hope it changes but I can't see how.

Okay that makes sense again it is not right and I hope it continues to improve.

No that is so true I find different way to do things or ask for help.

Thank you for all your help.

[Cat24]

Hello, so sorry for my late reply. I’m definitely glad I had the private assessment for my own peace of mind. It’s quite an involved process though with multiple questionnaires then the practical assessment itself was about 3 hours. I’ve now received my report but awaiting a call with the OT to go through it. It’s quite in-depth with resources and recommendations for employers.

Dyspraxia UK also suggested speaking to my GP re funding by the Integrated Care Board but I didn’t go down this route as I was already on a waiting list for an MRI to rule out any medical reason for my issues, and Dyspraxia UK also recommended that I waited for the results of that before I had my assessment. Could you get funding from your work?

If anyone is still looking into assessment options this article is also useful and has some other assessment options:
https://www.dyspraxiamagazine.com/blogs ... n-lewis-uk?

Genius Within also offer assessments and coaching (I’m currently looking into support/coaching!): https://geniuswithin.org/our-services/assessments/

Hope this helps!

[stormwell]

Hello, so sorry for my late reply. I’m definitely glad I had the private assessment for my own peace of mind. It’s quite an involved process though with multiple questionnaires then the practical assessment itself was about 3 hours. I’ve now received my report but awaiting a call with the OT to go through it. It’s quite in-depth with resources and recommendations for employers.

Dyspraxia UK also suggested speaking to my GP re funding by the Integrated Care Board but I didn’t go down this route as I was already on a waiting list for an MRI to rule out any medical reason for my issues, and Dyspraxia UK also recommended that I waited for the results of that before I had my assessment. Could you get funding from your work?

If anyone is still looking into assessment options this article is also useful and has some other assessment options:
https://www.dyspraxiamagazine.com/blogs ... n-lewis-uk?

Genius Within also offer assessments and coaching (I’m currently looking into support/coaching!): https://geniuswithin.org/our-services/assessments/

Hope this helps!

I've got my assessment with Dyspraxia UK coming up very soon, did they tell you the outcome on the day or did you have to wait for the report?

[Cat24]

I was told on the day. She said she’d ‘be surprised if I didn’t have it from what she’d seen’, then it was confirmed in the report once all the tests were added up.

Good luck! Hope it goes well for you.

[stormwell]

I was told on the day. She said she’d ‘be surprised if I didn’t have it from what she’d seen’, then it was confirmed in the report once all the tests were added up.

Good luck! Hope it goes well for you.

Yeah, pretty much how it went for me and I got the report yesterday which confirmed it. Intelligent but with 'well below average' motor skills.

[Cat24]

Great news. I hope it’ll bring some comfort and provide some answers having the diagnosis.