Autism awareness has risen significantly across the past decade. In this day and age it’s challenging to find anyone who doesn't realize that autism significantly impacts youngsters and their families.

Unfortunately, most adults with autism lack the correct diagnosis. Robison (2019) estimates that only 3-10% of adults on the autism spectrum are accurately identified.

The path to wellness begins with a correct diagnosis, leading then to practical strategies and supportive resources. The lack of experienced professionals who evaluate adults for autism is a notable barrier toward long term improvement.

Many adults search for initial answers by taking online quizzes but are unsure how to find a professional for an accurate and meaningful evaluation.

Have you or someone you love become motivated to search for answers? As a content expert on autism in the adult, I'm here to provide you with the direction you need to find a qualified specialist.

4 Questions to Ask in Your Search for an Autism Expert

1. What is your experience?

A psychologist is often the professional who performs autism evaluations in the adult. Many individuals will find a clinician through the internet or word of mouth but feel at a loss when it comes to evaluating whether the source is reliable.

I recommend that you contact the clinician and ask how many diagnostic assessments s/he has performed. But don't stop there! Ask how many s/he has completed within specific subgroups that relate to you (e.g., professional women in their 50's). Whether the answer is three or three hundred, a number is a quick and revealing snapshot of the individual's experience level with autism in the adult.

2. What is your approach to the assessment?

Ask the professional how s/he approaches the exam. The diagnostic manual for autism and the instruction manuals for various diagnostic tools recommend that the clinician use multiple sources of information.

Using only one or two sources (e.g., questionnaire scores) is likely to produce an incomplete and unreliable diagnostic picture. The clearest diagnosis may come to light after gathering the information from the client, medical or mental health records, questionnaires and diagnostic tools, and observations from supportive people in the client’s life.

3. Will you explain what autism looks like in my life?

Questionnaires and tools are used in assessment because they highlight those who may (or may not) meet the diagnostic requirements for autism. However, instruments become problematic when professionals use them as a substitution for the actual criteria. A professional should understand the diagnostic guidelines and speak to how the characteristics of autism are evident in your daily life.

4. Will you provide individualized recommendations?

You are unique! A knowledgeable clinician should be able to offer you individualized recommendations based on your specific strengths and challenges. Avoid professionals who use a cookie-cutter approach by providing the same recommendations to every client with a particular diagnosis. The reason you seek a diagnosis is to understand what makes you tick, figure out how to navigate your life's difficulties, and learn about autism-specific strategies to enhance your wellness.

It's the personalized direction you receive from an evaluation that moves you toward clarity and hope.

One woman described her gratitude for the diagnostic process and amazement at learning which of her diverse characteristics fit together under the diagnostic umbrella of autism. "In the past, I looked at all my different quirks and struggles and wondered why I had so many! It’s gratifying to see how those pieces comes together as one big picture. The diagnosis has given me the direction and purpose I've been searching for all these years."

An autism diagnosis may be one stepping stone on your path toward self-knowledge and wellness. An evaluation from a skilled clinician can offer hope, clarity, and a sense of purpose. The four simple questions provided here will help you find a professional who is right for you.

Theresa Regan, Ph.D., is a rare combination of adult neuropsychologist (specialist in brain-behavior relationships), parent of an amazing child on the autism spectrum, and certified autism specialist with the IBCCES. She is deeply grateful to bring validation, hope, and purpose to individuals and their families living on the autism spectrum. With this mission at its core, she founded and directs the OSF HealthCare Adult Diagnostic Autism Center in central Illinois. Her books include Understanding Autism in Adults and Aging Adults and Understanding Autistic Behaviors. For more information and to join her new online autism community for free visit www.adultandgeriatricautism.com