A simple step by step guide to obtaining an assessment for notices and diagnosis.

If you suspect that you may be autistic, taking the screening test might be a helpful first step while online tests cannot provide a formal diagnosis they can guide you in deciding whether to seek a professional evaluation a definitive diagnosis can only be made by a qualified clinician.

it’s crucial to understand the limitations of online tests: these tests often miss aspects that only a skilled diagnostician can assess and usually depend on your self-reported behaviors and perceptions which may not fully capture the complexity of autism.

For an accurate diagnosis
A comprehensive evaluation by a professional is essential, and an assessment by presenting the person to a third party is invaluable.

Assessment for autism
By a qualified technician or clinician. The assessment will typically be conducted by a psychologist or psychiatrist or ideally a team of clinicians with experience in diagnosing autism should be involved, though this isn’t always feasible the process may require multiple meetings to gather comprehensive information. Clinicians will ask various questions and might also want to speak with someone who knew you as a child (if you are an adult) and after collecting all of the necessary information the clinician will produce a report outlining their findings and their diagnosis may confirm autism or offer on alternative explanation or guidance.

Additional services
Based on the conclusions in the report you may be referred for additional services such as appointments with a psychologist or a psychiatrist. You can also self-refer to the Autism Association of Barbados as we may be able to assist you in navigating autism related information and recommended supports, clinicians and services for you and your support network.