A bit of over a 12 months in the past, I began to marvel if perhaps I used to be autistic.
Not one to let issues go (often known as hyperfixation), my exploration led me to studying scientific books about autism spectrum dysfunction (ASD) and memoirs by autistic individuals, listening to varied podcasts about autism, and looking out up sources and details about ASD on-line. I even began seeing a therapist who focuses on working with neurodivergent sufferers and who has indicated she agrees with my self-diagnosis.
Regardless of all of that, I felt that it was necessary for me to discover an official prognosis by way of testing. All the course of took me roughly 10 months, and having simply accomplished it, listed here are among the questions I had going into the method – with solutions from my very own expertise.
1. Do I should be examined to determine as autistic?
From what I discovered, the quick and simple reply to this query is completely not. The autistic and neurodivergent neighborhood are very open to self-diagnosis, and with the myriad flaws within the medical testing mannequin for autism, many adults wrestle to get something greater than an “inconclusive” consequence from testing. If having an official autism prognosis doesn’t make a distinction to you and the assist it’s essential to succeed, there’s no purpose to spend the time, power, and cash to undergo the method.
I selected to undergo the method for 2 causes. First, I wished to have the ability to write about my prognosis with out having neurotypical individuals query it. I view it as an underline to my prognosis in that means. Second, there are individuals in my life that have been struggling to grasp and settle for my self-diagnosis. The testing consequence and official prognosis have helped me to maneuver my conversations with them about being autistic ahead.
2. How lengthy does autism testing take?
Whereas this reply will seemingly range, it took me roughly 10 months from placing my title on the ready listing to prognosis. 9 months of that have been spent on the ready listing, so nearly all of my testing and prognosis occurred inside a month.
That is more likely to range relying on the sources out there in your explicit space, the kind of assist you want or don’t want, and whether or not there’s a devoted grownup testing facility and even an choice for grownup testing at close by autism amenities.
3. What was the testing like?
Testing could range relying in your age, kinds of signs, the ability you go to, the kind of testing skilled you’re working with, and different doable elements.
My testing – which didn’t embody the cognitive testing portion – consisted of two appointments and several other varieties to fill out. The primary appointment was a video dialog with the clinician, wherein they requested me to offer medical historical past, why I believed I is likely to be autistic, and details about varied behaviors and thought processes. At that time, there have been two choices: Both the clinician would determine I didn’t want additional testing and finish the method, or she might refer me for additional testing. My clinician requested a follow-up in-person appointment based mostly on my responses. She additionally despatched my accomplice and me a number of varieties to fill out (I crammed out three to 4, and he crammed out one) to price my behaviors on varied scales.
On the in-person appointment, my clinician started by typically asking what was happening with me. There was no preamble or different preparation, and it took me a minute to comprehend that was, in actual fact, a part of the check. Different actions included “studying” an image guide, telling tales about varied objects, figuring out an image, speaking about my work, and customarily speaking about my pursuits and life. The appointment was roughly 90 minutes lengthy.
Throughout this session, the clinician noticed my bodily behaviors (like eye contact or stimming), my capacity to have interaction in back-and-forth dialog, my capacity to determine and discuss feelings, and issues like voice modulation (whether or not my voice would get loud when speaking about issues).
4. Now what?
A few weeks after the in-person appointment, I had one other video appointment with my testing skilled, throughout which she identified me with ASD stage one. She shared the observations she made that introduced her to this prognosis, in addition to the self-reported and other-reported behaviors she gleaned from the varieties my accomplice and I crammed out. She additionally emailed me a full report (which is lengthy, and I’m nonetheless working my means by way of it).
For adults particularly, the testing course of will not be as definitive as mine was. It isn’t unusual for somebody to self-diagnose after which obtain an “inconclusive” prognosis. In speaking with varied professionals, I’ve discovered that this usually has extra to do with the check and course of itself. Regardless of intensive info now being out there to point out that autism is a much wider set of traits and behaviors than initially thought, many professionals offering testing providers nonetheless adhere to an older definition that tends to narrowly apply autistic behaviors to kids solely, and extra particularly, to male kids.
If you’re an grownup and are simply beginning your journey with autism prognosis, testing could or will not be for you, however there are many sources out there to assist in your journey. I’ve discovered probably the most from studying varied books and speaking with different autistic people, in addition to listening to podcasts by and with autistic individuals.
Whereas I’m relieved to have an official prognosis, that in itself won’t seemingly change how I search out and organize assist for myself – one thing I’ve been studying to do over the previous 12 months and a half. And I imagine (and hope) that each little bit I do to teach others about what autism means for me helps another person with their very own autism journey.
Kristen Abell is director of web site and digital initiatives, author, and advocate for psychological well being and neurodivergence.
