One thing I've noticed re autism assessments

Post Reply New Topic

Is that they vary considerably as to how thorough they are.

There is a fairly standardized version of an autism/Asperger's assessment which can take place over like 5 hours in one day---or a few hours each time for 2 or 3 days.

It involves a rather extensive battery of intelligence tests, tests of academic accomplishment, various screening assessments, a questionnaire for you and your parents (or friends if your parents aren't available, or if they are rather elderly).

An interview with the parents or friends is also quite possible---though not compulsory.

Plus, the observation of the examiner as to how you present yourself during the assessment.

Mine was 12 hours with a very extensive battery of tests, as well as lengthy online tests and questionnaires that my family and I did afterward from home (separately, without consult). Those tests were sent directly to a third party autism research centre, which collaborated all my scores against the assessor's scores for consistency and reliability. My testing was extremely thorough and the report is a comprehensive document measuring all my abilities in terms of percentile, with standard deviation scores factored in. I'm so glad that I was assessed this way instead of using a less accountable procedure.

Yep. That was extensive!

When I was 3 years old, no "tests" were needed. It was pretty plain to the psychologist that I was autistic, and that I should be institutionalized.

That's far more thorough than 3x 60 min or so assessments plus ADOS- module 4 I did. I had to do a few questionnaires and my stepdaughter had one to do. There were no tests of academic accomplishment or any intelligence tests. I'm guessing they're seen as not being needed if you are above a certain age.

It cost me a bleeding fortune, so I'm glad the testing was double-blind and verified by a third party.

It sounds like your psychologist should see you now, so competent and successful. I bet he / she would be amazed by your progress in every area of development. Woot!

firemonkey I had the ADOS and an intelligence test administered, but not the full psycho-educational assessment. I'm curious what my psycho-educational results would be though. I may have to go back and find out!

I would have liked to have an intelligence test done to confirm my suspected , by me,learning difficulty. In which VIQ is much better than PIQ.

I had the ADOS, an IQ test, various questionnaires (one on sensory perception and another was for ADHD), the MMPI, and an interview. It was probably about 7 hours altogether.

My verbal IQ is 30 points higher than my visual/spatial IQ.

LOL...I would bet that psychologist is long gone....I don't know what he looked like---but there didn't seem to be many young doctors or psychologists in those days. The first "relatively young person" I had as a psychologist was a man in his 40's when I started seeing him at age 15. I believe he ultimately passed away, too.

My "regular" doctor was quite an old man even in the 1960s. His name was Dr. Benjamin Stein. He did make a couple of "house calls" when I was about 5 or 6.

I'm wondering whether this difference in the thoroughness of the assessment process is very much a US vs UK thing .

My mother's GP doctor is in his 80's. He delivered my older brother and he's still practising. He actually retires in July. His daughter is now my doctor, and I've known her since she was five years old. I'm derailing though! Sorry firemonkey. What I remember offhand about my report is that my verbal was 25th percentile and my non-verbal was 5th. I had the lowest score my assessment doctor had ever seen re: reading people's emotion or intent from looking at photos of their eyes. There are so many scores recorded I'd have to look at the report again, but most categories were labelled "at significant risk" despite my high IQ. As always I'm a series of contradictions.

I think my first one was more extensive than my second, but the first was much broader looking (Because we didn't really know) and the second was a rediagnosis.

Then again, I barely remember my first one. I remember mostly having trouble with a peg in hole puzzle because I couldn't get the peg in the hole.

It probably just varies, I think.

During my evaluation, my psychologist adjusted what assessments she was going to use based on her observation of me during the interview and the results of assessments she had already given me.

These things are often tailor-made for the individual. I don’t think that having a shorter assessment means that it’s necessarily inferior.

That's ok . I did an official IQ test at school , when I was 15, but was never told the result. I've done quite a few online tests( taken separately they can be seen as dubious) but doing several a pattern emerges. With non-verbal averaging at 64(about 1st percentile) and verbal averaging in the 99th percentile .

That's ok . I did an official IQ test at school , when I was 15, but was never told the result. I've done quite a few online tests( taken separately they can be seen as dubious but doing several a pattern emerges.) With non-verbal averaging at 64(about 1st percentile) and verbal averaging in the 99th percentile .