Sometimes when parents tell me that they have a child with Autism, they will sometimes tell me that they observe their child’s behavior or the way he or she behaves in social situations and wonder if they, too, may warrant a possible Autism diagnosis. They sometimes ask me whether I think it would even be work seeing an evaluation given that they are now adults. A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry by Boston University found that the prevalence of Autism in adults enrolled in Medicaid more than doubled between 2011 and 2019. Sometimes, I will explain to them that while Autism can be diagnosed as early as age 2 in some cases, it is also possible that symptoms may not become more apparent until the adolescent or young adult years. Also, greater clinical knowledge and recent expansion of the diagnostic criteria (2013) has led some adults to being diagnosed on the spectrum later in life when they previously would have been overlooked as children.
I do tend to see pursuing a clinical diagnosis for Autism as more of a positive thing as opposed to a negative because I think it can help the person understand themselves better as to why they are the way they are. It may help explain why certain tasks or situations may be challenging, such as social interactions, keeping their room organized, or making it to appointments on time, and why they may be able to perform so much better in other areas like recalling verbal information or recognizing patterns and paying very close attention to detail. A clinical diagnosis also helps the individual be able to access in-school services and/or community-based supports, which can help the person learn to cope with and manage the diagnosis and lead a more meaningful life. These services can include assistance with life skills like shopping, money management, and meal preparation (services that are often funded through the Medicaid Waiver) as well as evidence-based practices such as speech language therapy and physical or occupational therapy in addition to several other options.
I was diagnosed with a Level 1 Autism spectrum disorder at age 20. I have always been very motivated and driven, and I couldn’t figure out why, if I was performing so well academically, I was never asked or invited to hang out with the other kids in school. Getting an Autism diagnosis helped me understand that my difficulties with social connection were not something I was doing wrong. It wasn’t a matter of “just keep trying.” I was neurologically wired completely differently than my peers. What was I supposed to do? Schedule an elective surgery for a brain implant and get a new brain? Sorry, modern medicine hasn’t quite gotten that far yet. I think if I hadn’t gotten a diagnosis of Autism, there would have been continued self-loathing, significant self-esteem issues and possible significant depression which would have certainly needed to be followed by a clinical therapist. Even though it can sometimes be daunting and seem like a big undertaking, I definitely think looking into a medical evaluation for Autism can potentially do more good than bad.
Note: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and are intended for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the official stance of IRCA and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, educational, or therapeutic advice.