Instead of saying:

“I go blank.”

Try:

Under pressure, I can lose access to speech or find it difficult to organise my thoughts. I may need time, written prompts, or support from another person to communicate accurately.

Instead of:

“I know what I mean but I can’t explain it.”

Try:

I have difficulty translating my internal experience into spoken language during appointments. Written questions, body diagrams, examples, or extra time help me give more accurate information.

Instead of:

“I forget everything.”

Try:

I have working memory and recall difficulties, especially under stress. I may forget symptoms, timelines, medication details, or agreed next steps unless I use notes and receive written follow-up.

Instead of saying:

“I seem fine but I’m not.”

Try:

I may appear calm, articulate, or capable during appointments because I mask distress and force myself to communicate. 

This can hide the level of difficulty I am experiencing. 

Please do not assume that fluent speech means I have understood, retained, or can act on the information given.

Instead of saying:

“I need someone there.”

Try:

I need a supporter, advocate, carer, friend, or family member present because my communication, memory, processing, or decision-making can be impaired during appointments. 

Their role is to help me understand information, remember details, communicate accurately, and follow the plan afterwards.

Instead of saying:

“I hate phone calls.”

Try:

Phone appointments are not accessible for me because I have difficulty processing spoken information without visual cues and written support. 

I may misunderstand, forget, or be unable to respond accurately. I need either a face-to-face appointment, video appointment, written communication, or a written summary afterwards.

Instead of saying:

“I can’t fill in forms.”

Try:

I have difficulty completing forms because they require sequencing, recall, interpretation, prioritisation, and translating lived experience into formal language. I may need help completing forms, extra time, or the option to provide information in another format.

I am requesting reasonable adjustments for my GP appointment.

I need help making the appointment accessible because I may struggle to explain symptoms clearly in a short appointment, especially if I am stressed, overloaded, in pain, or trying to describe multiple issues.

It would help if the clinician could:

• 1. read my written summary before or during the appointment

  2. ask direct, specific questions

  3. allow extra time for me to answer

  4. avoid assuming that I am coping because I can speak clearly

  5. write down the plan, including referrals, tests, medication changes, and what to do if symptoms worsen

I am requesting reasonable adjustments for this mental health assessment or liaison contact.

I am neurodivergent and may communicate distress differently. I may appear calm, detached, articulate, angry, flat, confused, or inconsistent when I am overloaded. Please do not interpret this as dishonesty, lack of insight, or unwillingness to engage.

I need:

• • clear questions

  • time to process

  • written information

  • explanation of what is being assessed

  • opportunity to correct misunderstandings

  • support to distinguish distress, overload, shutdown, meltdown, trauma response, and mental illness

Please record my communication needs accurately and do not rely only on how I appear during the appointment.

I am requesting reasonable adjustments for my autism / ADHD / neurodevelopmental assessment.

I may have difficulty giving examples on demand, remembering childhood information, or explaining traits in a linear way. My experiences may come out as stories, patterns, metaphors, or systems rather than short answers.

It would help if I can:

• • send written notes beforehand

  • use examples from different life stages

  • have extra time to answer

  • ask for questions to be rephrased

  • receive written information about the assessment process

  • receive the outcome and reasoning in writing

Please do not assume that articulate speech, eye contact, humour, qualifications, employment history, masking, or learned coping strategies mean that I do not have significant functional difficulties.

I am requesting reasonable adjustments for my specialist appointment.

Because this appointment may involve complex medical information, I need support to understand, process, and remember what is discussed.

Please provide:

• • key findings in plain language

  • test results explained clearly

  • treatment options written down

  • risks and benefits explained one step at a time

  • time to ask questions

  • a written summary of the plan

  • clear information about who to contact if symptoms change

This helps me make informed decisions and follow medical advice safely.

I need a written summary because I cannot reliably retain spoken information under pressure.

I need extra processing time before answering because fast questions reduce the accuracy of my answers.

I need direct questions because vague questions make it harder to identify what information is relevant.

I need to use notes because I cannot reliably recall symptoms, dates, medication details, or concerns during appointments.

I need someone with me because my communication and memory are affected by stress, pain, fatigue, sensory overload, or emotional pressure.

I may appear calm or articulate while still being overloaded and unable to process information properly.

I may need to pause, write things down, ask for repetition, or return to a question later.

Please check my understanding by asking me what I have understood, rather than assuming silence means agreement.

Please provide next steps in writing, including who is doing what, by when, and what I should do if things get worse.