I've been asked by a number of people if there is time during the summer for any further adult assessments for autism spectrum disorder or Asperger's Disorder: yes. I have several days set aside for patients who are seeking an assessment for adult Aspergers or adult autism, as I know there are not many clinicians prepared to complete this work.
What does testing for adult Aspeger's or adult autism spectrum disorder consist of? Primarily we look at symptoms and behaviours you had as a young child. This is done with a structured clinical interview, the ADI-R. In addition to that we engage in a structured interview process called the ADOS which requires you to participate in a number of activities and answer some questions about your current life and thoughts. Usually individuals take a structured personality assessment to rule out possible disorders that may look just like adult autism or Aspegers, and when appropriate we use some neuropsychological tests to help flesh out the diagnosis. It is just about necessary to have someone who knows you well, especially your behavioural and social history, to complete some forms about these issues.
We usually start with an initial one hour session and discuss your current signs, symptoms and problems so that we can make a good choice about the appropriateness of proceeding with an assessment.
For more information on testing for Aspeger's Disorder or autism spectrum disorder in adults, teens/adolescents or children, please visit my website and then contact me directly.
My website can be found at www.relatedminds.com
Dr. Jim Roche
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