If you are reading this post, it is most likely because you have heard about the process of getting diagnosed as Autistic in adulthood and want to learn more. 

It’s possible you have already self-diagnosed and are looking to take the next step. Maybe you just have questions and think a formal diagnosis process may be the way to go. 

Our aim with this post and future posts related to this topic is to clear up some of the mysteries and misconceptions so people can make a more informed decision about whether format diagnosis is right for them. 

In this post we will be discussing the assessment process and what it can look like.

While everyone goes through a different personal process when it comes to their formal diagnosis journey, the assessment process itself is based on diagnostic criteria and informed by a variety of sources and factors. That is one reason why a formal diagnosis can be such a costly process! 

So let’s take a closer look at who is involved in this process, the criteria they are assessing, and the tools they might use to assess you as an individual against those criteria.

The professionals involved in your formal assessment can vary depending on your needs, what locations are accessible to you, and what is within your financial means. 

Adults seeking an Autism assessment in the UK through the NHS may work with a multidisciplinary team that can (but doesn’t necessarily always) include: a clinical psychologist, a nurse, an occupational therapist, a psychiatrist, a social worker, a speech and language therapist, a physiotherapist, and support staff for accessing services. 

Someone seeking out a diagnosis in the US might consult with their primary care provider, a psychiatrist, or psychologist about starting the assessment process, while an official diagnosis might come from “a psychiatrist (MD), psychologist (PhD), or neuropsychologist (PhD).”

 Including people you already trust such as your doctor or therapist in the process can help with advocating for the type of support that will best meet your needs as you do what you need on your end to successfully complete the assessment.

Autism assessments are typically rooted in diagnostic criteria set by the DSM-5 . While the linked article goes more in depth about the specific criteria, they can be summed up into two main categories. 

The first is described as “deficits in social behavior,” and a diagnosis requires meeting all three:

• Difficulty with social emotional reciprocity

• Difficulty with nonverbal communication

• Difficulty with developing and maintaining relationships

The second is described as “restricted and repetitive behavior” and a diagnosis requires meeting two of the four:

• Repetitive or stereotyped speech or motor movements, echolalia

• Rigid adherence to routines or resistance to change

• Highly specific and focused interests

• Increased or decreased reactivity to sensory input

If these are the broad diagnostic criteria that will be considered during an assessment, then how exactly will the assessment determine whether those criteria are being met? What if I’m worried about whether I actually meet one of these criteria? 

It’s important to remember when reviewing that simplified list of criteria that an assessment considers a wide range of sources for making a determination, and that you do not need to fit into a neat box to receive a diagnosis. 

While every professional may take a slightly different approach due to the plethora of assessments that are out there, there are still some common factors that most professionals are likely to consider, and in some cases for which you might want to prepare ahead of time:

A personal history

• Personal recollections of challenges or needs pertaining to diagnosis criteria

• Family history of Autism or behavior meeting diagnosis criteria

• Challenges faced in day to day life or personal relationships related to diagnostic criteria

• Anecdotes from family members about times in your life that you exhibited behaviors related to diagnostic criteria

• Times in your life you have had to find ways to compensate for or find a system to work around challenges related to diagnostic criteria

Direct observation

• A direct discussion with you

• Taking one or multiple Autism questionnaires together

• Assessing motor movement

• Assessing sensory needs or sensitivities

• Assessing use of language and social interaction

Co-occurring conditions, which can include:

• ADHD

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Epilepsy

• Hearing or visual impairment

Medical Assessment

• Examining medical history for co-occurring conditions

• Examining medical history for notes that may pertain to diagnostic criteria

We hope that this post has helped to take away some of the mystery from the assessment process and offer a better idea of what it might look like, even if each individual’s assessment process may turn out slightly differently. 

If you would like to learn more about the assessment process or if you would like to share what your own assessment was like then we would love to hear from you! Just drop us a line at hello@autismgrownup.com and stay tuned for more adult diagnosis resources.