Adult & Teen Autism Evaluations

North Metro Psychological Services provides neurodiversity-affirming autism evaluations for teens and adults in Marietta, throughout the greater Atlanta area, and virtually when appropriate. We have particular experience evaluating individuals seeking a later autism diagnosis, including women and AFAB individuals, high-masking individuals, and those whose autistic traits may previously have been attributed to ADHD, anxiety, trauma, or other concerns.

Our goal is to provide thoughtful diagnostic clarification while recognizing each person’s strengths, lived experience, and individual support needs.

Evaluation Options

We offer both focused autism screening and comprehensive autism evaluations. The most appropriate option depends on the purpose of the assessment and the level of documentation needed.

Adult Autism Screening

An autism screening is a focused diagnostic assessment designed to determine whether the available information supports an autism diagnosis and to help guide treatment or next steps.

Screening may be appropriate for adults seeking diagnostic clarification for personal understanding or treatment purposes. When criteria are supported, diagnostic impressions may be provided.

However, screening is not intended to provide the comprehensive documentation typically required for college, standardized testing, professional licensing, workplace, or other formal accommodations.

Comprehensive Autism Evaluation

A comprehensive autism evaluation provides a broader assessment of functioning and a detailed written psychological report. It may include evaluation of cognitive, attentional, executive functioning, emotional, or other areas depending on the individual’s history and referral questions.

A comprehensive evaluation is generally recommended when:

• Formal documentation or accommodations are needed

• Autism and ADHD are both being considered

• There are multiple overlapping diagnostic questions

• A more detailed understanding of cognitive or psychological functioning is desired

• Previous diagnoses or treatment have not fully explained the individual’s experiences

Autism in Teens and Adults

Autism can look very different from person to person. Some individuals are identified during childhood, while others are not recognized until adolescence or adulthood.

Many later-diagnosed autistic individuals have spent years developing strategies to adapt to social expectations, manage sensory discomfort, or compensate for difficulties with communication, executive functioning, or change.

Possible experiences may include:

• Feeling different from peers without understanding why

• Difficulty interpreting unspoken social expectations

• Needing significant recovery time after social interaction

• Preference for direct, clear communication

• Strong or highly focused interests

• Sensory sensitivities or sensory-seeking behaviors

• Difficulty adjusting to unexpected changes

• Reliance on routines or predictability

• Social interaction that feels effortful or highly conscious

• Rehearsing conversations or reviewing interactions afterward

• Difficulty identifying or communicating internal emotional states

• Periods of overwhelm, shutdown, or burnout

• A longstanding sense of needing to “perform” socially

Autism is not defined by any single characteristic. Evaluation considers developmental history, current functioning, patterns across settings, and the individual’s overall experience.

Autism in Men and AMAB Individuals

This video provides additional information about how autism may present in men and individuals assigned male at birth.

Autism in Women, AFAB Individuals, and High-Masking Adults

Autism has historically been identified more readily in individuals whose traits match traditional or externally visible presentations. As a result, many women, AFAB individuals, and high-masking autistic people are not recognized until later in life.

Some may appear socially capable while relying on extensive observation, rehearsal, imitation, or conscious analysis of social situations. Others may develop strong routines, perfectionistic coping strategies, or anxiety around meeting expectations.

This can sometimes lead autistic traits to be attributed primarily to anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, personality, or other concerns.

A thoughtful evaluation considers both visible behavior and the effort required to maintain that behavior.

Understanding Autism in Women and Late-Diagnosed Adults

These videos offer additional perspectives on why autism may be overlooked or identified later in women and other high-masking individuals.

Masking and Late Identification

Masking, sometimes called camouflaging, refers to consciously or unconsciously modifying behavior in order to meet social expectations or reduce the likelihood of standing out.

This may involve:

• Rehearsing conversations

• Copying the communication styles or mannerisms of others

• Suppressing stimming or other self-regulatory behaviors

• Forcing eye contact

• Carefully monitoring facial expressions or tone

• Preparing scripts for social situations

• Hiding sensory discomfort

• Pushing through overwhelming environments

• Appearing socially comfortable despite significant internal effort

Masking can sometimes make autism harder to recognize from outward behavior alone. Over time, sustained masking may also contribute to exhaustion, anxiety, reduced self-understanding, or autistic burnout.

Evaluation should therefore consider not only how an individual appears socially, but also what happens internally and how much effort is required to navigate everyday demands.

Strengths and Support Needs

Autistic individuals may experience meaningful strengths alongside areas where additional support is helpful.

Strengths may include:

• Deep knowledge in areas of interest

• Creativity and originality

• Strong attention to detail

• Pattern recognition

• Honesty and direct communication

• Loyalty

• Persistence

• Analytical or systems-based thinking

• Strong values or sense of fairness

• Ability to focus deeply on meaningful work

Support needs vary considerably. Some individuals may benefit from assistance with sensory regulation, executive functioning, communication, transitions, emotional regulation, relationships, workplace demands, or recovery from sustained social and occupational demands.

The purpose of evaluation is not simply to identify difficulties. It is to develop a more accurate understanding of how the individual functions and what environments and supports allow them to do well.

What Does an Autism Evaluation Include?

The assessment process is individualized based on age, developmental history, presenting concerns, and the purpose of the evaluation.

Depending on the type of evaluation, the process may include:

• Clinical and developmental interview

• Review of medical, educational, and psychological history

• Autism-specific questionnaires and measures

• Assessment of social communication and interaction

• Evaluation of sensory experiences and repetitive or restricted patterns

• Assessment of masking or camouflaging

• Behavioral observations

• Cognitive assessment when indicated

• Attention and executive functioning assessment when appropriate

• Evaluation of emotional and psychiatric functioning

• Collateral information from a parent, partner, family member, or another person when available and appropriate

• Review of childhood records when available

• Individualized recommendations

• Written report and feedback session for comprehensive evaluations

Not every individual will receive the same combination of measures. Assessment is selected based on the specific questions being addressed.

Autism, ADHD, and Other Overlapping Concerns

Autism may occur alongside ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, learning differences, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, or other concerns.

There can also be meaningful overlap in areas such as:

• Executive functioning

• Sensory processing

• Emotional regulation

• Social fatigue

• Attention

• Task initiation

• Need for predictability

• Burnout

• Difficulty managing multiple demands

For this reason, evaluation should consider the whole clinical picture rather than relying on a single questionnaire or isolated symptom.

When autism and ADHD are both suspected, a combined or broader evaluation may be appropriate.

After an Autism Evaluation

Recommendations are individualized and may include:

• Neurodiversity-affirming therapy

• Executive functioning support

• Occupational therapy when appropriate

• Sensory accommodations

• Workplace or academic accommodations

• Communication supports

• Relationship or family resources

• Support for autistic burnout

• Community resources and peer support

• Additional psychiatric or medical consultation when indicated

The goal is to provide practical recommendations that fit the individual rather than expecting the individual to conform to a one-size-fits-all approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schedule an Autism Evaluation

If you are wondering whether autism may help explain your or your teen’s experiences, we would be happy to help determine which type of evaluation is most appropriate.

Contact North Metro Psychological Services to learn more about autism screening or comprehensive autism evaluation options.