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What actually happens during an adult autism assessment?
In this episode of That AuDHD Teacher, I take you through my own autism assessment experience, including the screening questionnaires I completed, what I was asked, and what the assessment process was like for me.
I'll talk about the different questionnaires that were used as part of my assessment, including the RAADS-R, Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q), and Monotropism Questionnaire (MQ).
I've also included links to the questionnaires I talk about in the episode below.
RAADS-R: https://novopsych.com/assessments/diagnosis/ritvo-autism-asperger-diagnostic-scale-revised-raads-r/
Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ): https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient
CAT-Q: https://embrace-autism.com/cat-q/
Monotropism Questionnaire (MQ): https://osf.io/wpx5g/files/4wru2
Please remember that these are screening and self-report tools, not diagnostic tests. Completing a questionnaire or receiving a particular score does not mean that you are autistic. They are simply one possible source of information within a broader assessment process.
I'll also talk about something that made a huge difference to my own experience: having a clinician who understood that autism can present differently in women.
I didn't feel like I had to prove that my struggles were real. They listened to me, believed my experience and that made an enormous difference.
I'll also talk about finding a reputable clinician, why autism assessments can differ between countries and providers, and why it's important to ask questions about an assessment before committing to it.
I've created a free resource with questions you might want to consider asking a clinician before choosing someone to assess you.
My assessment was conducted online, which also meant there were limitations to what support I could access afterwards. For example, some forms of support may require an assessment that meets particular requirements, including an in-person assessment.
Your assessment experience may look very different from mine. This episode is about my personal experience of being assessed for autism and what I learned from the process. It isn't a guide to what every autism assessment should look like, and it isn't a substitute for professional assessment or advice.
Welcome to That AuDHD Teacher , a podcast about my journey as an autistic and ADHD teacher, and the things I'm continuing to learn about AuDHD, neurodiversity and myself.
