Child and Adult Autism Assessment

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) such as Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD both fall into the category of neurodevelopmental disorders. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders can often face challenges with language and speech, motor skills, behaviour, learning and memory, during their early years.

While the symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD and ADHD can often change through later childhood and adolescence, some disabilities can persist into adulthood.

Autism is understood as a spectrum because it is different for everyone. Many people learn to cope with life in their own ways, although this can be hard work. The characteristics of autism vary from one person to another, but in order for a diagnosis to be made, a person will usually be assessed as having had persistent difficulties in the following areas:

• Social communication
• Social interaction
• Restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviours, activities or interests (this includes sensory behaviour)

Adult assessments can be undertaken at any stage of adult life, and it’snot uncommon for adults to receive diagnoses in their 40’s and 50’s, and beyond.  Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder will certainly have experienced difficulties since childhood, but most will have developed ways to manage their difficulties, in some cases masking the most outwardly obvious symptoms. For these adults, diagnosis and post-diagnosis support important to minimise the impact of lifelong limitations to everyday functioning and minimise the risk of long-standing emotional difficulties such as anxiety and depression.

Some common signs of Autism/ASD

• Finding it harder to communicate and interact with people.
• Finding it harder to understand how other people might think or feel.
• Finding sensory experiences such as bright lights or loud noises overwhelming or uncomfortable
• Anxiety when faced with unfamiliar situations and social events.
• Sticking to repetitive or stereotypical behaviour patterns and routines.

Diagnosing Autism in Adults

Having an ASD/ASC means that the person has a different way of understanding others and the world around them. ASD/ASD is a lifelong developmental disorder, not an illness or disease, so there is no cure as such but there are many ways that the difficulties can be managed.

West Dorset Practice specialises in the clinical assessment and diagnosis of ASD and ADHD at child, adolescent and adult stages of life. We also have specialists in post-diagnosis support for children, adolescents and adults with ASD and ADHD.

If you live in the Dorset area, and think that you, or a child/young person in your care may benefit from a clinical autism ASD assessment, please get in touch.