Autism assessment and diagnosis for adults

You may have come across information about autism and recognised parts of yourself in it, or you might be a parent, partner, or friend of an adult who you feel may be Autistic. Many people share this experience. As our understanding of autism continues to grow, more adults are identifying as Autistic and seeking or receiving a diagnosis later in life.

Some people in this position choose to see a professional for a diagnosis, while others prefer not to. This is a personal decision. The important thing is to learn as much as you can about autism, to help you understand that Autistic people can have a different view of the world around them and might find socialising challenging.

A diagnosis can provide a much better understanding of the challenges a person may face, and opportunities to find supports that can help.

There are a few scenarios where an adult will seek assessment for an autism diagnosis:

• The person may have struggled for many years with things that might be explained by autism and would like that officially validated to better understand themselves and ways to accommodate their needs.
• The person may have challenges that might be explained by autism and wish to pursue a diagnosis to seek accommodations in the workplace, in education or funding through NDIS which that might require an official diagnosis to access.
• The person may have a diagnosis of other conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD) or anxiety and depression that they suspect is a misdiagnosis, or does not explain all their challenges, and wish to explore this further with a professional.
• The person might have seemingly managed for much of their life but has reached a point where life demands now exceed their capacity. This can result in an increase in support needs, and it can be helpful to understand if the person is Autistic to better understand their needs and supports that may be of assistance.
• Sometimes when a child receives an autism diagnosis, other family members – such as parents or grandparents, might begin to identify with qualities or characteristics associated with autism.

How to get an adult autism assessment?

For adults seeking an assessment, the best option is to consult a neurodiversity-affirming psychologist or psychiatrist experienced in the assessment and diagnosis of autism in adults. To support the assessment, they will ask a lot of questions about your childhood, experiences at school, and as an adult. A speech pathologist or occupational therapist may also be consulted to provide supporting information. The National Guidelines for the Assessment of Autism in Australia (2023) provide further detail about assessment.

Medicare and government-funding for adult autism assessment and diagnosis

Autism assessments for adults are not fully government funded. However, there are Medicare rebates available for assessment for people under 25 years. With the Medicare rebates, there will be an out-of-pocket cost. You can read about them on the Downloads and online learning page of this site in the Information Sheets about Medicare.

Related information to Autism assessment and diagnosis for adults

Understanding the role of medical and allied health professionals in adult autism assessments and diagnosis

Next steps after receiving an adult Autism diagnosis

For more information

To get more information – including advice tailored to your specific situation – please contact the Amaze Autism Connect advisors on 1300 308 699, email [email protected] or use the webchat on this site. 

This service is open from 8am–7pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).