Somewhat over a 12 months in the past, I began to surprise 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 numerous podcasts about autism, and searching up assets 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 vital for me to discover an official analysis by way of testing. Your entire course of took me roughly 10 months, and having simply accomplished it, listed below are among the questions I had going into the method – with solutions from my very own expertise.
1. Do I must be examined to establish as autistic?
From what I realized, the brief and straightforward 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 battle to get something greater than an “inconclusive” end result from testing. If having an official autism analysis doesn’t make a distinction to you and the assist you might want to succeed, there’s no motive to spend the time, vitality, 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 analysis with out having neurotypical individuals query it. I view it as an underline to my analysis in that method. Second, there are individuals in my life that have been struggling to know and settle for my self-diagnosis. The testing end result and official analysis 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 differ, it took me roughly 10 months from placing my title on the ready record to analysis. 9 months of that have been spent on the ready record, so nearly all of my testing and analysis occurred inside a month.
That is more likely to differ relying on the assets accessible 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 services.
3. What was the testing like?
Testing could differ relying in your age, varieties of signs, the power you go to, the kind of testing skilled you’re working with, and different potential elements.
My testing – which didn’t embody the cognitive testing portion – consisted of two appointments and a number of other kinds to fill out. The primary appointment was a video dialog with the clinician, by which they requested me to offer medical historical past, why I assumed I may 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 primarily based on my responses. She additionally despatched my companion and me a number of kinds to fill out (I crammed out three to 4, and he crammed out one) to charge my behaviors on varied scales.
On the in-person appointment, my clinician started by usually asking what was happening with me. There was no preamble or different preparation, and it took me a minute to understand that was, actually, a part of the check. Different actions included “studying” an image e book, telling tales about varied objects, figuring out an image, speaking about my work, and usually 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 interact in back-and-forth dialog, my capacity to establish 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 analysis, in addition to the self-reported and other-reported behaviors she gleaned from the kinds my companion and I crammed out. She additionally emailed me a full report (which is lengthy, and I’m nonetheless working my method by way of it).
For adults particularly, the testing course of might not be as definitive as mine was. It’s not unusual for somebody to self-diagnose after which obtain an “inconclusive” analysis. In speaking with varied professionals, I’ve realized that this usually has extra to do with the check and course of itself. Regardless of intensive data now being accessible to point out that autism is a much wider set of traits and behaviors than initially thought, many professionals offering testing companies nonetheless adhere to an older definition that tends to narrowly apply autistic behaviors to youngsters solely, and extra particularly, to male youngsters.
In case you are an grownup and are simply beginning your journey with autism analysis, testing could or might not be for you, however there are many assets accessible to assist in your journey. I’ve realized essentially 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 analysis, that in itself won’t seemingly change how I search out and prepare 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 tasks, author, and advocate for psychological well being and neurodivergence.
