Autism Diagnosis Resources: Guidance, Tools, and Support

Getting diagnosed with autism later in life, whether it’s in your 20s or 40s or even your 60s, can be a total game-changer. It can impact your entire sense of identity and how you interact with the world and others. It can also bring a profound feeling of relief while answering many questions, including: why did it take so long to figure this out? 

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For Tobey, 41, the turning point following his clinical diagnosis was a deep sense of self-acceptance. “Once I stopped burning energy on hiding and masking, I was able to redirect that effort into becoming my true self,” he says. “The difference has been huge.”

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Tobey is far from the only adult who spent decades living with undiagnosed autism. In fact, the rate of autism in adults has been steadily increasing. Between 2011 and 2022, the autism diagnosis rate increased by 450% among 26-to 34-year-olds alone.

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Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in 45 adults is autistic, and even more are likely undiagnosed. This rise is due to the improved understanding of the condition (and acknowledgement that autism is a true spectrum, rather than a collection of specific traits) thus leading to updated diagnostic criteria.

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Whether you’re newly diagnosed yourself or are considering getting an adult autism evaluation, you probably have a lot of questions. In this article, we’ll provide a neurodivergent-affirming breakdown of why many adults receive a late autism diagnosis, and we’ll unpack both the challenges and benefits, as well as how to access support.

While Prosper Health is a neurodiversity-affirming practice, diagnostic criteria and assessments often use deficit-focused language that isn’t neurodiversity-affirming. We chose to include some of this deficit-based language—which does not reflect how we would usually write about autism—in this article for the sake of accurately portraying diagnostic materials.

Have you ever thought about getting tested for autism?

Perhaps because, as both a child and an adult, you’ve always felt misunderstood or out of sync with your peers. You could never quite put your finger on why you were different, but deep down, you knew there had to be an underlying reason. As our collective understanding of autism and diverse neurotypes grows, more and more people are realizing their autism might have been missed when they were kids and are now seeking a diagnosis in adulthood. 

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The day we received my daughter’s autism diagnosis, it felt like the world finally opened its doors to our family. But so many autistic individuals have lived their entire lives without knowing they are neurodivergent, and as a result, aren’t getting the support they need. Luckily, it’s never too late to get an autism diagnosis, but the process can feel intimidating. Where do you even start? Especially when autism testing options for adults, as well as data on autistic adults, are still relatively limited. 

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For example, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 45 adults in the United States is autistic, but many are undiagnosed. 

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The good news is that there is growing recognition of the need for more accessible and respectful autism assessments and diagnoses. This has led to a push to improve the overall autism testing process for adults in recent years. According to a study published in JAMA Network Open, the rate of diagnosis in young adults (age range: 26-34) rose 450% between 2011 and 2022.

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Getting yourself tested for autism can feel like an overwhelming task. That’s why Prosper Health is here to provide you with a step-by-step, supportive guide that will give you everything you need to know about the diagnostic process, from self-reflection to post-diagnosis support and resources.