AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER TESTS HOW TO

If symptoms are not present in childhood but begin in adolescence or adulthood, this may indicate a cognitive or mental health condition other than ASD.

If no underlying physical condition can explain the symptoms, the doctor may refer the person to a psychiatrist or a psychologist to make an ASD diagnosis.

checking for other physical or mental health conditions that may be causing symptoms.

speaking to a loved one (with permission).

observing and interacting with the person.

enquiring about the symptoms, both current and during childhood.

While they cannot give a diagnosis, the tests are a good starting point.Ī person seeking a diagnosis can take the results of such a test to a primary care doctor who will try to determine whether ASD may be present by:

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER TESTS HOW TO

How to begin a diagnosis processĪdults who suspect they or a loved one might be autistic can do a self-assessment test for adults. This is especially true if the patient’s symptoms are not severe or if the patient also has other conditions, for example, anxiety.Īutistic people may have higher rates of co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety or depression, than those in the general population. Many clinicians may not be familiar with the signs of ASD in adulthood.This means the results of studies looking at ASD testing methods may not represent a true population of autistic adults. Not many research studies on testing for adult ASD include enough participants from historically underserved groups, such as People of Color or people who are LGBTQIA+.Researchers who look at the reliability of ASD tests often use a small number of study participants.However, it is not clear how reliable these tests are for adults. These include diagnostic tests such as ADOS 2 Module 4, ADI-R, and 3Di Adult. But a doctor needs to recognize a person’s symptoms in order to refer them to testing.Ĭlinicians have developed different tests that can help diagnose ASD in adults. Research shows that one of the common diagnostic tests for autism in adulthood, the ADOS-2, may be fairly reliable.If people have been living with ASD for some time, they may be better at masking the signs and symptoms.At times, such people may never get a diagnosis.

People who did not receive a diagnosis in their younger years may have milder symptoms, which can be more difficult to recognize.Seeking an ASD diagnosis as an adult can be challenging for several reasons: As a result, it can be more challenging to diagnose ASD. Some people may seem able to cope better with social situations than others, as their symptoms may be more subtle and masked. There may be some similarities between ASD and other disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD), but the signs and symptoms of ASD vary from person to person.Īlso, the symptoms can differ across genders. the need to arrange items in a specific orderĪutistic people will not usually have all the above signs and symptoms, and they may experience others that are not on the list.superior abilities in a particular field, such as mathematics or other disciplines.reliance on daily routines and difficulty dealing with change.trouble understanding facial expressions and body language.problems reading the emotions of others.limited interest in only a few activities.difficulty understanding sarcasm or idioms.involuntary noises, such as repetitive throat clearing.hypersensitivity to sounds or smells that do not seem to bother others.frequent monologues on the same subject or subjects.extreme interest in one particular topic.difficulty making or maintaining close friendships.Autistic adults may also have inflexible thought patterns and behavior, and may carry out repetitive actions.Ĭommon signs and symptoms of ASD in adults can include: They may have difficulty relating to people and understanding their emotions. Share on Pinterest Johner Images/Getty ImagesĪutistic people may find some aspects of communication and social interaction challenging.

Autism spectrum disorder tests