I Might Be Autistic

So how can I tell?

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Autism Diagnosis

There are two main methods of diagnosis, self-identified and professional diagnosis. Each method is equally valid. The links below are not medical advice and are for educational purposes only. There is a saying in Autistic circles, “Once you have met one Autistic person you have met one Autistic person”. We are all different so you will probably not share every Autistic characteristic. In addition, Autism is NOT just found in young white males. It can be found in every demographic including POC and BIPOC, as well as on every continent.

Self-Identified

Discovering you are Autistic can come from a variety of sources. Some people might have taken a free online Autism screening test, while others make the connection after a child’s diagnosis. Some have friends that point out their Autistic characteristics. Autistic author Sonia Boué created a PDF guide for people on the beginning of their autism journey called, Am I Autistic?

Below are some online Autistic screening tests. It is important to note that in most of these tests a greater proportion of males were in the original ASD study groups, so they are more likely to miss Autism in females. In addition the accuracy can vary between the different tests.

Professional Diagnosis

Getting a professional diagnosis comes with pros and cons. It can be quite expensive and take a long time. Different systems are used for diagnosis depending on where you live.

For instance in the U.S. they use The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and testing often utilizes the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) for adults. The ADOS-2 may be less sensitive to female presentations of Autism (Sex Differences on the ADOS-2).

You might need to get a referral from your GP doctor to get tested for Autism. It is a good idea to write down all of the Autistic characteristics and any related past stories from your life on a sheet of paper to share with your physician. And if you have taken any online Autism screening tests bring the results with you.

Here is a playlist of resources with discussions about autism and diagnosis: