Autistic characteristics can vary considerably between individuals. Some adults may experience:

• Difficulty intuitively understanding certain social expectations or unwritten social rules
• Finding social interactions effortful or difficult to navigate
• Difficulty knowing how to begin, maintain, or end conversations
• Difficulty interpreting indirect communication, ambiguity, sarcasm, or other people’s intentions
• A preference for direct, clear, and predictable communication
• Strong or highly focused interests
• A strong preference for routine, predictability, or particular ways of doing things
• Difficulty adjusting to unexpected changes
• Sensitivity to sounds, lights, textures, smells, touch, or other sensory experiences
• Becoming overwhelmed in busy or highly stimulating environments
• Repetitive behaviours or routines that may provide regulation, predictability, or comfort
• Needing significant time to recover following demanding social or sensory experiences
• Difficulties developing or maintaining friendships or intimate relationships despite wanting meaningful connections

Not every autistic person will experience all of these characteristics.

Similarly, experiencing some of these difficulties does not necessarily mean that someone is autistic. Social difficulties, sensory sensitivities, rigidity, or problems managing everyday demands can occur for many different reasons.

A comprehensive assessment therefore considers the person’s overall pattern of development and functioning rather than relying upon any single characteristic.

At People Psychological Solutions, our clinical psychologists provide psychological assessment for adults who would like to understand whether their longstanding experiences may be consistent with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

An autism assessment involves considerably more than completing an online screening questionnaire.

Because autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, assessment involves understanding both the person’s current functioning and their developmental history.

Depending on the individual and the purpose of the assessment, this may involve:

• A detailed clinical interview
• Exploration of current social communication and interaction
• Developmental history, including childhood social and behavioural functioning
• Exploration of patterns of interests, routines, behaviours, and responses to change
• Assessment of sensory experiences
• Standardised autism-specific assessment instruments where clinically appropriate
• Information from a parent, family member, partner, or another person who knows the individual well, where appropriate and with consent
• Review of childhood or educational records where available and clinically useful
• Assessment of relevant cognitive, emotional, and behavioural functioning
• Consideration of other psychological and neurodevelopmental conditions
• A feedback session to discuss the findings and recommendations

Not every individual will require exactly the same combination of assessment procedures. Assessment methods are selected according to the person’s circumstances and the clinical questions that need to be answered.

There is no single questionnaire or psychological test that can independently determine whether someone is autistic.

A comprehensive assessment considers whether characteristics associated with autism have been present since the person’s developmental period and how they affect their functioning across different areas of life.

It is also important to consider alternative and co-occurring explanations.

For example, difficulties in social situations can occur alongside social anxiety. Difficulties with attention, organisation, and self-regulation may occur in ADHD. Rigidity and repetitive behaviours can also occur for reasons other than autism.

In some cases, more than one condition may be present.

The purpose of assessment is therefore not simply to assign a diagnostic label. We aim to help the person develop a clearer understanding of their individual pattern of strengths, difficulties, and needs.

For some adults, receiving an autism diagnosis can provide a framework for understanding experiences that may have been difficult to explain throughout their lives.

The implications of a diagnosis will differ from person to person.

Following assessment, our psychologists can discuss the findings with you and consider what recommendations may be helpful in your circumstances.

Depending on your needs, this may include:

• Developing a better understanding of your individual autistic characteristics
• Identifying sensory or environmental factors that contribute to distress or overwhelm
• Developing strategies for managing changes and transitions
• Understanding your communication preferences and needs
• Considering appropriate adjustments within work, education, or everyday environments
• Developing strategies for organisation and everyday functioning
• Understanding patterns within friendships, family relationships, or intimate relationships
• Supporting family members or partners in understanding your needs, where appropriate and with your consent
• Identifying co-occurring psychological difficulties that may benefit from treatment

A diagnosis does not mean that every characteristic associated with autism needs to be changed.

Rather, psychological support can focus on difficulties that the individual themselves identifies as important, while taking their autistic characteristics, preferences, strengths, and environment into account.

Autistic adults may also experience other neurodevelopmental or psychological conditions.

These can include:

• ADHD
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Trauma-related difficulties
• Sleep difficulties
• Relationship difficulties
• Other emotional or behavioural concerns

The presence of autism does not mean that every difficulty a person experiences is caused by autism.

Likewise, the presence of another psychological condition does not necessarily exclude autism.

A comprehensive clinical assessment therefore considers the person’s difficulties as a whole and examines how different factors may interact.