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• Starting the Journey
• Getting a Diagnosis
  • Diagnosis before birth
  • Diagnosis at birth or soon after
  • Diagnosis in the infant years
  • Teenage or adult-onset diagnosis
  • Undiagnosed conditions
• Finding Information
• Connecting with Others
• Getting Help
• Other New Zealanders' Stories

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Getting a Diagnosis

Introduction: Diagnosis before birth / Diagnosis at birth or soon after / Diagnosis in the infant years / Teenage or adult-onset diagnosis / Undiagnosed conditions

Teenage or adult-onset diagnosis

The emotional issues will still be significant in circumstances where a diagnosis arises for a teenager or adult, and there will be different dimensions to issues faced by families with a newly diagnosed baby. The young adult will need support and opportunities to deal with their feelings, as will the parents.

Other aspects of later diagnosis revolve around the fact that regular medical care is likely to be from a General Practitioner. As general practices often have a primary focus on symptom management, there may be some delay till an appropriate referral to a specialist occurs. We suggest you raise the issue of a specialist referral with your doctor, if problems are persistent.