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Adult Autism Diagnosis & Testing

The Sachs Center offers the most comprehensive Adult Autism testing, using the latest diagnostic tools in our evaluations. Our psychologists are specialists in neurodiversity, offering a compassionate and knowledgeable assessment.

  Contact us for ADHD Testing in NYC, NJ, CT, MD, FL, and throughout the United States. Do you think you might need Adult Autism testing? Have you always wondered if you were Autistic? Did a friend or family member mention symptoms to you that you learned were common to adults with Autism? If you relate to these situations, you may be Autistic and should consider our comprehensive adult Autism testing.

Know With Confidence If You Have Autism

You could take an online quiz and guess if you are Autistic. You could have your family doctor read you ten symptom questions and hand you pills. Or you go to a very busy psychiatrist. The doctor spends ten minutes with you and says: “I think you have ADD.” This busy doctor prescribes you medication. You take the medication for a few months and then discontinues it due to side effects. Deep down, you’re frustrated and not sure if you really have ADHD. Years and months pass, but the problems persist.
Diagnosing autism in adults follows similar principles to diagnosing it in children, but the presentation may differ due to differences in developmental history and life experiences. The diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adults are outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association. Here are the key diagnostic criteria:
  1. Persistent Deficits in Social Communication and Social Interaction: Adults with autism may have difficulties in social interaction and communication, which can manifest in various ways, such as:
    • Difficulty understanding social cues, nonverbal communication, and social norms.
    • Challenges in initiating and maintaining conversations.
    • Difficulty developing and maintaining relationships, both romantic and platonic.
    • Limited or atypical use of gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact.
    • Difficulty understanding and responding to the emotions and perspectives of others.
  2. Restricted, Repetitive Patterns of Behavior, Interests, or Activities: Adults with autism may engage in repetitive behaviors or have restricted interests, including:
    • Repetitive movements or behaviors (e.g., hand-flapping, rocking).
    • Rigid adherence to routines or rituals.
    • Highly focused interests that are narrow in scope and intensity.
    • Sensory sensitivities or aversions (e.g., hypersensitivity to noise, light, textures).
    • Unusual preoccupations with specific objects or topics.
  3. Symptoms Present in Early Developmental Period: Symptoms of autism must have been present in early childhood, even if they may not have been recognized or diagnosed until adulthood. However, some individuals may go undiagnosed until later in life.
  4. Symptoms Cause Clinically Significant Impairment: The symptoms of autism must cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
  5. Exclusion of Other Conditions: The symptoms cannot be better explained by another neurodevelopmental disorder, mental disorder, medical condition, or substance use.
Diagnosing autism in adults often involves a comprehensive assessment conducted by a multidisciplinary team, including psychologists, psychiatrists, and other healthcare professionals. The evaluation may include interviews, self-report questionnaires, observations of behavior, and assessments of cognitive abilities and adaptive functioning. Additionally, obtaining developmental history from childhood, including information from family members or caregivers, can be crucial in making an accurate diagnosis.