Psychological testing for autism in adults

The testing of adults for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is important even if the diagnosis went without identification during one’s childhood/adolescent developmental period.

Common Concerns about ASD Diagnosis in Adulthood

The prevailing question someone grappling with the decision as to whether or not they should assess in the area of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is: what might the testing tell me that either I don’t already know about myself or that others most familiar with me have already pointed out in their interactions over time with me?

Another common concern is the impact of a late diagnosis on self-esteem and personal achievements: if I have made it into adulthood without having had a diagnosis identified, will it be upsetting to me now as an adult and impact my self-esteem, diminish what I have accomplished in my life to date, or affect my worldview with the diagnosis of ASD being newly established?

Potential Benefits of an Adult Autism Diagnosis

Still remaining as a question: If my Autism diagnosis is in the spectrum continuum on the higher functioning side, what advantage will I have in learning that I have an Autism diagnosis as an adult with accomplishments that rival or supersede my peers who do not have a diagnosis of Autism? What good could come out of this for me if this is the scenario that applies to me in my particular situation? Especially if I have friends, a marital relationship, children, and a family of my own.

Reasons for Identifying an ASD Diagnosis

The establishment of identifying an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis is important for several reasons which are important to someone who suspects that they may have an ASD diagnosis. For one, the establishment of the diagnosis can offer clarity on what areas of targeted treatment could positively impact deficits in social skills development (social interactions/peer-to-peer interactions/theory of mind and/or perspective taking of others), communication (expressive (output) speech and receptive communication (reading and understanding of speech), and stereotypical features associated with a diagnosis of ASD.

An additional benefit of receiving a diagnosis would be to learn through the participation of counseling/psychotherapy to have the ability to navigate ambiguous social situations and not withdraw or retreat and isolate due to the enormous complexity of most social situations. Knowledge of one’s diagnosis can also inform oneself of the possibility of having a genetic predisposition to have children who may, in addition to the adult parent with a diagnosis of ASD, be a carrier of a genetic marker for autism. (In situations where there is a family history of Autism and there are some examples where multiple siblings from one parent grouping have the diagnosis). The importance of this knowledge will allow for the parent in such an example to plan for early intervention services in school to avoid hardships likely to have occurred to the parent as they likely were not afforded those intervening services which may have had an adverse impact at the time they were experienced.

Gaining Insights into Behavioral Characteristics

Gaining insights into some of the behavioral characteristics and attributes that accompany ASD will allow the identified individual with the newly acquired diagnosis a roadmap to augment the characteristics and also permit the person to articulate their needs more precisely to friends, family, and others with whom they work in their places of employment. This can lead to more harmony and fewer misunderstandings of one’s true intentions or motivations behind an altogether seemingly virtuous act. In short, peaceful interactions are much more probable in situations where a behavior, especially if it is not commonly attributable to someone’s chronological age as in if a person is aged 42, does not coincide with societal expectations, will be framed in a manner that is a viewed as a teachable moment to the person. This is so that their next interaction comes about (comes to fruition) rather than that it does not happen because the person has been canceled or abandoned because they did not behave in the socially acceptable manner per their age to date. When persons who have some degree of mild awkwardness in social situations get rejected or rebuked by others, even if they have attained enormous professional (occupational) and personal success (as in having their own families), the feeling of having failed or being less than stings and causes prolonged distress and acrimony.