What to expect from your Autism assessment
What to expect from your Autism assessment
Attending an Autism assessment as an adult is a significant step that for many people brings about a range of emotions, including excitement and curiosity, but also nervousness and worry. Many of our adult assessment clients have expressed that there is a fear of being ‘caught’ as an imposter. Others may experience anxiety around feeling judged or negatively appraised. Attending an assessment is a personal and often emotional process for many people, and it is our goal at The Kidd Clinic to provide a safe, affirming and validating experience for our clients.
An autism assessment is not about labelling, but about understanding. Many adults seek an evaluation to better comprehend themselves, especially if they’ve always felt “different” or have had difficulties with social interactions, sensory sensitivities, or routines. An assessment provides clarity, validation, and tools to navigate life more effectively. An assessment is never a guarantee of receiving a certain diagnosis. However, even an assessment that does not result in a diagnosis can provide deeper insight into your unique pattern of strengths and differences.
How is Autism assessed?
Psychologists use a reference book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (5th Edition Text Revision, or DSM-V-TR) to diagnose Autism. The DSM-V-TR that features mental health and brain-related conditions and disorders. It is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is continually reviewed and updated with new scientific research. Each condition in the DSM-V-TR has a list of criteria underneath it. Psychologists make diagnoses based on whether a person meets those criteria or not.
In the DSM-V-TR, Autism is described by its full name – Autism Spectrum Disorder (although there is ongoing debate around the term ‘Disorder’, and many psychologists refer to it as Autism Spectrum Conditions, or simply Autism – check out our blog post on language when talking about Autism here). There are five criteria associated with Autism. If you would like to read up on the criteria, check out this blog post by Clinical Psychologist Dr Megan Anna Neff.
Our adult Autism assessments are typically structured in three ‘stages’.
Stage One
Stage 1 is the pre-assessment consultation. Every person seeking an assessment at The Kidd Clinic will attend a pre-assessment consult with one of our clinicians. At the consult, your clinician will ask you a range of questions about yourself, including why you are seeking an assessment and what you hope to get out of it. You will be asked about a range of traits and behaviours related to the criteria for Autism, including those that you might have noticed from a young age, and those that are currently occurring. It is normal to find it tricky to remember how you were as a younger child! Some adults bring a trusted family member, or past reports from childhood, to help provide information about their younger self. During the pre-assessment, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the assessment process or anything related to Autism. Your assessor will make a recommendation for you based on the information gathered at this consult, such as whether they recommend proceeding with an assessment or other avenues of support.
Stage Two
Stage 2 is the information gathering stage. Your assessing clinician will try to gather as much information about you as possible to determine whether you meet the criteria for Autism. Part of the information gathering stage includes a 2-hour long structured interview with you. You are welcome to bring somebody who knows you well, or a support person, to this session. Whilst it can sound overwhelming, the interview is also an opportunity for you to be your true self and share your passions and interests, talk about the important people in your life, and explore your history in detail. Our assessors have experience working with the Neurodivergent community (many of us are Neurodivergent ourselves!) and we encourage you to ‘un-mask’ (i.e., sit/move your body and communicate in whichever manner feels authentic and comfortable for you) during the interview if you feel safe to do so.
The assessor will also send you many questionnaires related to Autism, your strengths and differences, and other mental health-related concerns. It is helpful for us to gather information from many sources, so we may also ask you to identify trusted people who know you well, who might also be able to answer questionnaires.
Stage Three
Stage 3 occurs after the clinician has finished gathering information about you, and now begins to write a detailed report. In this report, the clinician will clearly outline the results of the assessment process (including any questionnaire data) and whether you meet the criteria for Autism. When the report is finished (a process which can take several weeks), you will be invited to attend a feedback session. During the feedback session, your clinician will explain the outcome of the assessment and provide recommendations based on your results. For many people the feedback session can evoke strong feelings, whether that is relief, disappointment, sadness or joy (or all the above!). The Kidd Clinic offers post-assessment session packs designed to continue exploring your unique Neurotype and provide a safe space to debrief after the assessment process.
Final thoughts…
Taking the step to seek an Autism assessment is an act of self-care and courage. Whether you’re looking for answers, validation, or guidance, know that the process is designed to support and empower you. At The Kidd Clinic, our hope is that you leave the assessment feeling seen, understood, and equipped to thrive as your authentic self.
