Adult autism: Understanding yourself better

Discover how an autism assessment can offer valuable insights, helping you to understand your unique way of thinking and interacting with the world. We are here to support you on your journey towards clarity and self-acceptance.

How an autism assessment can help

 

Gain clarity and self-understanding

If you have ever felt different, struggled to understand why certain situations feel more challenging than they seem for others, or found social interactions and sensory environments overwhelming, an autism assessment can provide valuable insight and understanding. An assessment is not simply about receiving a diagnosis - it is about gaining a clearer understanding of how your brain works, recognising your strengths, and identifying the supports that can help you thrive.

Greater understanding can lead to increased self-acceptance and reduced self-criticism.

The Adult Autism Assessment Process

Assessing autism in adulthood differs from assessing children because clinicians are evaluating both a person's current presentation and evidence that autistic characteristics have been present since early childhood.

As part of the assessment, we ask to interview an informant - usually a parent, sibling, or another family member or caregiver who has known you since childhood. This developmental history is an important part of the assessment, as autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with characteristics that begin early in life.

The informant interview helps us to:

  • Understand your early developmental history.

  • Explore your communication, social interaction, play, and behavioural patterns during childhood.

  • Identify early sensory sensitivities, interests, routines, and developmental milestones.

  • Build a comprehensive picture alongside your own account of your experiences.

We recognise that, for some adults, it may not be possible to identify an informant or obtain reliable information about early childhood. This does not prevent an assessment from taking place. In these situations, we will gather developmental information from alternative sources where available, such as school reports, medical records, or your own recollections, and integrate this with clinical observations and standardised assessment tools.

In-Depth Clinical Evaluation

A comprehensive assessment conducted by a qualified clinician using recognised, evidence-based assessment protocols to evaluate whether you meet the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The assessment explores your developmental history, communication and social interaction, sensory experiences, behaviour, and current functioning.

Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Second Edition (ADOS-2) will be used as part of the assessment process to provide a comprehensive understanding of your presentation. Other standardised assessment measures may also be administered, depending on the clinical questions being explored.

Following the assessment the clinician will prepare a comprehensive diagnostic report outlining the assessment findings, clinical formulation, diagnostic conclusions (where applicable, based on the DSM-5-TR criteria), and personalised recommendations tailored to your individual strengths and support needs.