Many adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) haven’t been diagnosed, despite experiencing challenges in their relationships, social life, job, mood, and behaviors. This is in part because ASD is complex and presents in a multiple ways, which can delay diagnosis or result in misdiagnosis.

Adults with undetected ASD can feel misunderstood, marginalized, lonely, and blame themselves for their difference. They often learn to “mask”, or hide certain difficulties, which can be stressful and exhausting. This is particularly true for females and has resulted in under-diagnosis.

Luckily, awareness of ASD in adulthood has been growing and more people are seeking assessments. Our ASD assessment can help you understand yourself better and help you get the support you need. If you’re diagnosed with ASD, it can provide you with a framework to make sense of your experiences.

Research shows that when adults received a diagnosis of ASD, they often experienced relief, greater self-acceptance, and more support.

“After years of feeling defective I finally had the answers”

“There’s more accepting of who I am ... you don’t try and copy other people and try and fit in. You’re trying to be yourself”

“After 50 years of not understanding the ‘why’ of myself, finding out I was an Aspie was a light in the darkness, best thing that happened to me.”

“Having that knowledge was such a powerful thing because I could understand and forgive myself.”

“[it has had a] positive effect on my working conditions ... it helped me to get help from social services.”

“... it’s more like they understand that OK, I have a diagnosis, and I have a disability. And that I’m not OK with work and stuff like that. So, I would say it’s less stressful”

 What are Signs that I might have ASD?

If you’ve wondered whether you’re on the autism spectrum, our assessments can help you get answers and understand yourself better. You may want to consider an ASD assessment if you answer “yes” to any of the following questions:

  • Have you always felt different from others? Like a square peg in a round hole?

  • Do you often feel misunderstood?

  • Are you often in your own world?

  • Do you find it difficult to interact with others?

  • Did you have difficulty making friends growing up?

  • Do you feel the need to pretend to be “normal” and fit in even though it’s exhausting?

  • Do you find it difficult or uncomfortable to maintain eye contact?

  • Do you have an aversion to physical contact or certain textures?

  • Are you particularly sensitive to certain sounds, lights, smells, or other sensory stimuli?

  • Have you been consistently told that you’re too loud or too quiet?

  • Do you find yourself repeating certain words or phrases over and over again either in your head or out loud?

  • Do you engage in repetitive behaviors like rocking or pacing?

  • Do you struggle with transitions or switching between different activities?

  • Do you get upset with even small changes to your routine?

  • Are you fascinated by very specific interests or activities?

Next Steps

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an autism assessment, please contact Old Town Psychology at (571) 478-9499, via email at info@oldtownpsychology.com, or submit a message below.

We are a 10 minute walk from the King Street Metro station.