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Table of Contents Table of Contents Trending Videos Close this video playerLanguage note: Although individual preferences exist, surveys of the autistic community consistently show that autistic people prefer identity-first language rather than person-first language (i.e., “autistic person” rather than “person with autism”). This article reflects the community's language preference.
Someone who suspects they might be autistic may seek an official diagnosis from a qualified provider.
Usually, this evaluation is completed by a psychologist or a psychiatrist with specialized training in this type of evaluation.
Read on to learn more about the diagnostic process, why it's harder to identify autism in adults than children, and whether getting an evaluation will be helpful to you.
A psychologist or a psychiatrist completes an evaluation if they have specialized training in autism.
Certain master's degree-level mental health professionals can also receive training in psychological assessments and autism.
Many providers list their services on various directory websites to help potential clients find them and determine if they are a good fit. Those with expertise in diagnosing autism will typically list this on their profiles or professional websites.
Neuroclastic has a diagnostician directory and Embrace Autism offers empirically validated assessments online as well as self-assessments.
Typically, when seeking an autism diagnosis, an individual completes a psychological evaluation that includes gathering detailed information about their history, early development, relationships, behaviors, symptoms, and difficulties.
Many measures developed to evaluate for symptoms of autism focus on early childhood. Measures to assess for autism in early childhood are typically not normed for adults, meaning they cannot be administered to someone over the age of 18.
When an adult is being evaluated for autism, the evaluator must use age-appropriate measures. These measures may include:
Many providers specializing in autism and who conduct autism evaluations specialize in working with children or teens.
In fact, many resources for finding a provider who can diagnose autism discuss seeking out developmental pediatricians or others who specialize in young children.
Often, health insurance policies will not cover autism evaluations for adults, or providers might not accept insurance due to low reimbursement rates or difficulty obtaining coverage for these evaluations. This means that clients must pay out-of-pocket, and in the United States, an autism evaluation typically costs between $800 and $5,000.
An autism evaluation typically costs between $800 and $5,000.
In addition, some providers struggle to identify autism in adults accurately. Many clients are misdiagnosed or get a false negative (meaning they are told that they are not autistic when they actually are).
False negatives can occur because the assessments that evaluate for autism do not always account for masking or what autism can look like in various populations. Specifically, Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color are often overlooked in autism research, as well as those who are not cisgender boys or men.
Due to the barriers that make autism evaluations inaccessible to many adults, many in the autistic community have embraced self-diagnosing or self-identifying.
What does it mean to self-identify with a diagnosis? This means that an individual has researched autism and identified with many symptoms and presentations, believing they are autistic but have not been evaluated by a provider.
Many autistic people face stigma and discrimination related to their diagnosis. Because of this, some may choose not to get an evaluation that would lead to the diagnosis being entered into their medical record.
Conversely, many autistic people are disabled and might require support, including financial resources, due to being unable to work full-time or in a supportive living environment.
These individuals need an official diagnosis in their record in order to access services. Similarly, autistic adults who are in school might need a diagnosis in order to receive academic accommodations.
If you suspect you might be autistic, you can consume content created by the autistic community to see if these experiences resonate with you. The decision to get a formal diagnosis is personal and depends on your needs. If you feel that an official evaluation would benefit you, a psychologist, psychiatrist, or another qualified provider can help you determine whether or not you are autistic.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
By Amy Marschall, PsyD
Dr. Amy Marschall is an autistic clinical psychologist with ADHD, working with children and adolescents who also identify with these neurotypes among others. She is certified in TF-CBT and telemental health.
Verywell Mind's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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