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How does a diagnostic procedure for adult autism go?

littlemoss

I am just trying to get a diagnosis on whether or not I have autism at 28 years old.

I already have a diagnosis on OCD and DPDR, for at least 8 years now. Many traits however also strongly suggest autism, and my family would be hopefully more understandig with my "quirks" if I had that stamped paper from a professional and all.

Since my therapist couldn't really help me out yet, I would like to ask here: how exactly an adult autism diagnostic procedure goes?

Do I take tests, or need to have therapy sessions with an expert? How long it usually takes to get a diagnosis? What to expect?

Thanks in advance <3

Parents

  • It varies enormously. The NHS procedures, in general, are the longest, employ the largest number of clinicians and rely the most on testing. Private assessments usually involve fewer clinicians, often just one. In my opinion there is also a decided difference between psychiatrist-led and clinical psychologist-led assessments, with the former more reliant on patient history and the latter more reliant on tests and observation.

  • in reply to Martin

    I had one psychiatrist and one Occupational Therapist. Would the latter have skewed more towards the tests and observations side? I feel like that together they worked to ensure that both aspects were covered, then came together to discuss their independent conclusions.

  • in reply to Shardovan

    My personal view is that autistic people who reach adulthood, sometimes late adulthood, without a diagnosis have often perfected various methods of passing as neurotypical. As such, I think that observation is not really all that accurate a way of judging autistic status and that personal histories and traits described by the person being assessed are much more relevant. 

    I think that my viewpoint is supported by the many stories that are regularly related on this forum, of people being denied a diagnosis for idiotic reasons, such as: makes eye contact, can string a coherent sentence together, makes appropriate gestures, is not a nuisance to [neurotypical] society, has a sense of humour etc. etc.

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  • in reply to Shardovan

    My personal view is that autistic people who reach adulthood, sometimes late adulthood, without a diagnosis have often perfected various methods of passing as neurotypical. As such, I think that observation is not really all that accurate a way of judging autistic status and that personal histories and traits described by the person being assessed are much more relevant. 

    I think that my viewpoint is supported by the many stories that are regularly related on this forum, of people being denied a diagnosis for idiotic reasons, such as: makes eye contact, can string a coherent sentence together, makes appropriate gestures, is not a nuisance to [neurotypical] society, has a sense of humour etc. etc.

Children
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