Adult Autism Assessments for Adults in Washington
You've spent your life wondering why you feel different. It might be time to find out.
Maybe you've always felt like everyone else was given a set of social rules that somehow skipped you.
You may have learned to carefully watch other people so you know how to respond. You replay conversations long after they're over. You feel drained after socializing, even with people you enjoy. You notice details that others miss, become deeply absorbed in interests you're passionate about, or feel overwhelmed by noise, lights, textures, or unexpected changes.
Perhaps you've been told you're anxious. Depressed. Too sensitive. Too intense. Too blunt. Too quiet.
Those experiences are real.
But for many adults, they're only part of the story.
Autism often goes unrecognized until adulthood-especially in women, highly masking individuals, people with ADHD, and those who have spent years becoming experts at hiding how hard everyday life really feels.
An assessment can provide something many people have been searching for their entire lives:
An explanation that finally makes sense.
What does autism look like in adults?
Autism isn't defined by one behavior.
It's a lifelong pattern of experiencing and interacting with the world.
You don't have to fit a stereotype to be autistic.
Many autistic adults:
Have careers, families, and successful lives.
Make eye contact.
Enjoy relationships and friendships.
Have learned to navigate social situations by observing and copying others.
Have been described as "high functioning," despite feeling exhausted behind the scenes.
Many people become so skilled at masking that even those closest to them don't realize how much effort everyday interactions require.
Masking can help someone fit in.
It can also leave them wondering who they really are underneath it all.
Why are so many adults diagnosed later in life?
For decades, autism research focused primarily on young boys.
Today we understand that autism presents differently across individuals.
Many adults were never evaluated because they were intelligent, academically successful, verbal, or able to compensate for their differences.
Others received diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, or trauma without anyone stepping back to ask whether autism might also be part of the picture.
Sometimes those diagnoses are accurate.
Sometimes autism helps explain why those struggles developed in the first place.
Our job isn't to assume the answer.
Our job is to understand the whole picture.
Our assessment process
We believe an autism assessment should feel collaborative, respectful, and thorough.
Rather than relying on a single questionnaire or checklist, we gather information from multiple testing tools to better understand your unique experiences.
Your assessment may include:
A detailed clinical interview exploring your developmental history and current experiences.
Standardized autism assessment measures.
Screening for overlapping conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, trauma, or other factors that may influence your presentation.
Review of sensory experiences, communication patterns, relationships, strengths, interests, and daily functioning.
A written report with diagnostic impressions and individualized recommendations.
A feedback session where we'll review your results, answer questions, and discuss next steps.
Throughout the process, our goal isn't simply to determine whether you meet diagnostic criteria.
Our goal is to help you understand yourself more clearly.
Why seek an assessment as an adult?
Many people tell us they wish someone had recognized it years earlier.
An accurate understanding of yourself can help explain lifelong patterns, improve self-compassion, guide therapy, support workplace or educational accommodations when appropriate, strengthen relationships, and help you build a life that works with your brain instead of against it.
A diagnosis doesn't change who you are.
It helps explain who you've always been.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I too old to be diagnosed?
No. Adults of every age seek autism evaluations. Many people don't begin asking these questions until their 30s, 40s, 50s, or later.
Can I have both ADHD and autism?
Yes. Autism and ADHD frequently occur together. Because there is considerable overlap, it's important to evaluate both rather than assuming one diagnosis explains everything.
What if I've learned to hide my struggles?
Many adults have spent years masking their differences. That's one reason our assessment process explores your lifelong experiences rather than relying only on how you present during one appointment.
Will I receive a written report?
Yes. Everyone receives a short written report. You'll also have the option to receive a written report explaining the assessment findings, diagnostic conclusions, and recommendations.
What happens after the assessment?
During your feedback appointment, we'll review your results together, answer your questions, and discuss recommendations that fit your goals and needs.
What is the cost?
We can bill your insurance if we are in-network (we are in-network with most major insurances) so your deductible and co-pay would apply the same way it does for mental health therapy. If you would like a comprehensive report the fee is $200 which is not billable or reimbursable by insurance -this is an out of pocket fee.
Ready to take the next step?
If you've spent years wondering why life has always felt a little different for you, you don't have to keep wondering alone.
Whether the answer is autism, ADHD, trauma, or something else entirely, our goal is to provide thoughtful, evidence-informed answers that help you better understand yourself.
Schedule your Adult Autism Assessment to begin the process.