Anyone cannot just diagnose autism. Diagnosing this complex behavioral disorder requires an expert. Experts can diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as early as 18 months old, but many people do not receive a diagnosis until adulthood. Giving an autism diagnosis earlier leads to better outcomes for the individual.
What Types of Doctors Can Give an Autism Diagnosis?
Not all doctors are qualified to give an autism diagnosis. Some of the experts that are able to give an autism diagnosis include psychologists, specialized pediatricians, and neurologists. The primary diagnostic professional is going to be a psychologist, because they often specialize in behavioral and mental health conditions directly. It’s important that the diagnosing medical professional has extensive experience diagnosing, evaluating, and treating autism.
The Diagnosis Process
Diagnosing autism is a multi-step process that requires different testing and evaluation phases. These different phases include but are not limited to:
- Patient interviews
- Observations of the patient’s behavior
- Tests of cognitive and language abilities
- Medical tests
- Interviews with parents, teachers, or other adults who can answer questions about the patient’s social, emotional, and behavioral development
Each phase of the autism diagnosis process is aimed to assess different aspects of the brain. Doctors can gain insight into whether or not someone is on the autism spectrum just by having conversations and observing their behavior.
Additional tests and inquiries exist to confirm the diagnosis and rule out alternative conditions. The overall autism diagnosis timeline will vary from person to person, but can last anywhere from a few hours to several months.
How to Get an Autism Evaluation
Getting an autism diagnosis typically requires a referral from one’s primary care provider, especially if that provider is not qualified to diagnose on their own. The primary care provider may recommend someone to diagnose, or will point the patient in the direction of several autism professionals.
Treatment After an Autism Diagnosis
Given the complex nature of autism spectrum disorder, people with ASD benefit from interdisciplinary treatment teams composed of experts from various fields. These teams typically include physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists, in addition to specialists in vocational training and social work.
Several interventions have been developed to support adults with ASD. Some of the more common approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a structured, evidence-based approach that helps individuals identify and manage problematic thoughts and behaviors. For adults with ASD, CBT can be particularly effective in addressing anxiety, depression, and social skills deficits.
- Vocational Rehabilitation: This intervention focuses on helping individuals with ASD gain and maintain employment. It includes job coaching, skills training, and support in navigating workplace social interactions.
- Social Skills Training: Social skills training programs aim to improve interpersonal communication, understanding of social cues, and relationship-building. Psychologists or social workers often lead these programs, delivering them in individual or group settings.
- Mindfulness-Based Therapies: Mindfulness practices, including mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), can help adults with ASD manage stress, anxiety, and emotional regulation by teaching them to stay present and engage in non-judgmental awareness of their thoughts and feelings.
A provider trained in diagnosing and treating autism should evaluate individuals to recommend the most appropriate interventions. Psychologists, as well as vocational coaches, occupational therapists, and social workers, can administer such interventions.
Psychologists play a crucial role in helping adults with ASD manage specific challenges associated with the disorder. This includes mental health issues, social relationships, and everyday functioning.
Navigate Your Autism Diagnosis
Whether you have recently been diagnosed with autism or a loved one has, knowing what to do following the diagnosis can be challenging. At Alter Behavioral Health, we have clinicians that are experts in the diagnosing, treatment, and management of autism. An autism diagnosis does not have to hold you back. If anything it opens you up to new opportunities to take advantage of your newly understood abilities and talents.
We offer all four levels of care to ensure that all clients get the treatment they need. Our facility offers crisis stabilization, residential programs, as well as partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient treatment. Whether you are looking to commit to a longer-term residential treatment program or only have the ability to do an outpatient weekday schedule, we have a range of programs available. Give us a call and better understand your autism with a diagnosis.
About Alter
Alter is a behavioral healthcare provider that specializes in evidence-based clinical treatment approaches. We provide a wide range of programs for adults and families experiencing mental health conditions including schizophrenia, depression, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, substance abuse, and more. This is done through client-centered care for a full-continuum of treatment. We serve the entire U.S. population from our revolutionary locations throughout sunny Southern California. Whether an individual needs 24/7 care or wants an outpatient program – we are there to guide every step of the journey. For more information, give us a call at (877) 613-9776 or visit our website at alterbehavioralhealth.com.
