A little bit 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 folks, 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 via testing. Your entire course of took me roughly 10 months, and having simply accomplished it, listed below are a number of the questions I had going into the method – with solutions from my very own expertise.

1. Do I have to 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” consequence from testing. If having an official autism prognosis doesn’t make a distinction to you and the assist you should 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 needed to have the ability to write about my prognosis with out having neurotypical folks query it. I view it as an underline to my prognosis in that approach. Second, there are folks in my life that had 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 possible range, it took me roughly 10 months from placing my title on the ready listing to prognosis. 9 months of that had been spent on the ready listing, so the vast majority of my testing and prognosis occurred inside a month.

That is prone 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 services.

3. What was the testing like?

Testing could range relying in your age, sorts of signs, the ability 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 several other kinds to fill out. The primary appointment was a video dialog with the clinician, wherein they requested me to supply medical historical past, why I assumed I could be autistic, and details about varied behaviors and thought processes. At that time, there have been two choices: Both the clinician would resolve I didn’t want additional testing and finish the method, or she may refer me for additional testing. My clinician requested a follow-up in-person appointment based mostly on my responses. She additionally despatched my associate and me a number of kinds to fill out (I crammed out three to 4, and he crammed out one) to fee 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 comprehend that was, actually, a part of the take a look at. 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 have interaction 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 degree 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 kinds my associate and I crammed out. She additionally emailed me a full report (which is lengthy, and I’m nonetheless working my approach via it).

For adults particularly, the testing course of is probably not 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 realized that this usually has extra to do with the take a look at and course of itself. Regardless of in depth 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 companies nonetheless adhere to an older definition that tends to narrowly apply autistic behaviors to youngsters solely, and extra particularly, to male youngsters.

If you’re an grownup and are simply beginning your journey with autism prognosis, testing could or is probably not for you, however there are many sources out there to assist in your journey. I’ve realized probably the most from studying varied books and speaking with different autistic people, in addition to listening to podcasts by and with autistic folks.

Whereas I’m relieved to have an official prognosis, that in itself is not going to possible 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 consider (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.