Adult Autism Self-Test & Guide

What is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder that can affect learning, communication, and social interactions. Autism is differentiated by levels of the spectrum. There are three levels of ASD based on the need for support.

Level one is considered the highest-functioning autism and needs little support to function in society. Level 2 autism needs more support than level 1 ASD, but with support can live fulfilling lives. Level 3 autism needs the most support and with treatment can see reductions in symptoms. However, Level 3 autism will need support on a daily basis.  

Repetitive or Restrictive Behavior Patterns

Apart from the communication and social issues mentioned above, children with autism may portray repetitive or restricted behaviors such as:

• Making repetitive movements such as spinning, running back and forth, flapping arms, and rocking
• Lining their objects in a particular order and getting upset when the order is disturbed
• Attaching to strict routines like using a specific process before they sleep or getting to school
• Repeating phrases or words they usually hear another person say
• Getting upset when minor changes are made
• Putting a lot of attention to objects or parts of a whole thing
• Being obsessed with something such as a particular toy
• Exceptional abilities such as memory capabilities or musical talents

Stimming Behavior of Autism 

Stimming refers to self-stimulating behaviors that often involve repetitive speech and motions⁵. Repetitively clapping hands, repeating a phrase, or rubbing an object are all examples of stimming. Nearly all children with autism engage in stimming, whether biting their nails or rubbing their hands.

For some, stimming can affect everyday life or cause physical harm. This behavior might help serve as a way to cope with sensory overloads or deal with uncomfortable situations.

Diagnosis of Autism in Adults vs. Children

There’s no specific test for autism in adults or children, such as a blood test. Therefore, diagnosing this condition involves in-person observation, interaction, and reporting. It also involves different experts and an evaluation of the respective person’s medical and developmental history. Especially in children when its symptoms are not apparent.

Diagnosis of Autism in Children

Autism diagnosis in children may involve the following processes:

• At-home testing
• Developmental screening
• Genetic testing
• Evaluation

At-Home Testing

Parents should not decide about their children’s autism at home. However, at-home testing can help determine whether to seek further testing or wait until a child is older.

At-home testing involves several in-person observations of signs and symptoms. These include difficulty maintaining eye contact with you and delayed communication skills with children of similar age.

You might also notice that your child is usually bothered when there’s a change in their daily routine. They are also entirely unresponsive to any communication.

Developmental Screening

Despite the findings associated with at-home testing results, it’s recommendable to seek autistic screening. This is especially important for a child between 18 to 24 months. Screening can help a parent determine whether their child is autistic earlier and benefit from early support.

The M-CHAT of Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers is the most common screening tool for childhood autism. Pediatrics can then rely on the response to decide whether a child will likely develop autism.

Please note that screening doesn’t necessarily mean that a child is autistic. Most children with positive screening reports don’t necessarily have autism. You should also note that screening doesn’t always identify autistic children.

Genetic Testing for Autism

A doctor may refer you to genetic counseling and testing. The genetic test looks at the cause of autism but is not used to diagnose it. It’s recommended for asthmatic people with syndromic autism, meaning they have other specific features apart from the syndrome. These features include looking differently from other family members with congenital disabilities.

The most preferred genetic test for people with ASD is chromosomal microarray or CMA. It looks at the chromosomes to see whether there are extra or missing parts that could have caused the condition. It usually finds an autism genetic cause in 5% to 14% of people with the syndrome.

Genetic testing can also be suitable for checking genetic disorders that can lead to ASD, such as:

• Fragile X syndrome
• Rett syndrome

In some cases, doctors may recommend a whole sequencing. Especially if the chromosomal microarray and the above genetic tests don’t find the cause of autism in a child. A whole-exome sequencing will look for genetic changes as part of the DNA that makes proteins. A whole-exome sequencing can find a cause in 8% to 20% of people with autism.

Other Tests for Autism in Children

A doctor may recommend other tests for autism in children, such as:

• Behavioral evaluation
• Visual and audio tests to rule out issues with hearing or vision that are not related to autism
• Occupational therapy screening
• Use of a developmental questionnaire like the autism diagnostic observation schedule

Once these diagnoses are completed, a specialist team will evaluate the results to determine whether a child is autistic. The experts include a child psychologist, occupational therapist, and speech and language pathologist.

Diagnosis of Autism in Adults

Similar to the diagnosis of autism in children, there’s no standard diagnostic method for adults suspected to be autistic. However, clinicians usually diagnose adults with autism through thorough in-person observations and interactions. They also consider symptoms that the person would be experiencing.

A diagnosis of autism in adults starts with an evaluation from the family doctor. The family doctor will assess the underlying physical illness that accounts for your behaviors. They may also refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for in-depth assessments.

A clinician may also want to speak about any issues associated with your behavioral patterns, emotions, and range of interest. You will have to answer questions about your childhood. The clinician may request to speak to your parents or older family members. This is to gain a perspective on your behaviors.

You may be evaluated further if the clinician determines that you didn’t display any autism symptoms during childhood. This is to identify symptoms of a possible affective disorder or mental health condition.

Autism Diagnosis Tests for Adults

Autism tests that can help with diagnosis for adults can include:

• Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)²: fifty question self-test designed to distinguish between symptoms of autism, high-functioning autism, or no autism spectrum disorder
• Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorder (DISCO)⁸: interview-style test that enquires about a person’s developmental behaviors through their daily functioning. It’s suitable for people who cannot accurately detail their history for developmental behaviors categorized under autism.
  
• Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R)⁶: concentrates on determining the quality of the affected child’s social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors.
  
• Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)¹: evaluates a child’s or adult’s social interaction and communication. Clinicians can use it to diagnose children or adults with autism symptoms or those at risk of developing this condition. Those with severe communication issues may not benefit from this assessment method.

Support for People with ASD

There’s no specific treatment for autism, but there is support available to help alleviate certain symptoms associated with this disorder. There are different approaches for support in children and adults. There are also different support systems for parents with autistic children.

Support for Adults with ASD

Adults diagnosed with autism should seek support based on the challenges they’re experiencing.

Some of the measures include:

• Seeking an official diagnosis from a psychiatrist
• Taking prescribed medication to alleviate symptoms such as depression and anxiety
• Work with a social worker to manage symptoms
• Use different therapies such as applied behavior analysis and cognitive behavioral therapy
• Work with a vocational rehabilitation counselor to assess your strength and needs
• Seeking support groups through forums and online groups and connecting with other people with autism spectrum disorder

Support for Children with Autism

Since autism symptoms may overlap between autism and other disorders, many diagnoses focus on the child’s specific needs.

Some of the treatment options include:

• Applied behavior analysis (ABA)
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Speech-language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Education and school-based treatment

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation – TMS

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive and medication-free treatment that focuses on stimulating the brain to help relieve symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. Studies are finding that TMS can help with some of the behaviors exhibited in autistic individuals⁷.

TMS often has few to no side effects and requires little to no communication. Autism is often associated with communication difficulties, making TMS a good option for treatment in this population.