Diagnosis for Adults

It’s not uncommon for someone to receive a diagnosis of Autism in adulthood.

Not as much was known about Autism over 30 years ago.  While diagnostic testing has improved for younger children, our medical community still struggles to identify adults with Autism.

Because Autism characteristics are becoming more known to the general population, more undiagnosed adults are recognizing that Autism may explain their significant life-long experiences and struggles.

The Autism Society Inland Empire has compiled this toolkit to answer some of the common questions we receive.  Click on the graphic for the pdf version, available free to download.  We also have a confidential support group for adults diagnosed later in life or seeking a diagnosis that usually meets once a month.  Check our calendar for the next meeting date.

Autistic adults may have differences in social, emotional, and communication skills that vary from the general population. Many people with Autism also have different ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to things. Indications of Autism may begin during early childhood and typically last throughout a person’s life.

Common indications of Autism in adults may include:

  • becoming anxious about social situations
  • finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on your own
  • seeming blunt, rude, or not interested in others
  • finding it hard to say how you feel
  • taking things very literally
  • having the same routine every day and getting very anxious if it changes
  • not understanding social “rules.”
  • avoiding eye contact or using cognitive effort in meeting society’s expectation of eye contact
  • getting too close to other people, or getting very upset if someone touches or gets too close to you
  • noticing small details, patterns, smells, or sounds that others do not
  • displaying hyperfocus in certain subjects or activities

It is common for us to receive calls from adults who are just discovering they may have Autism. You can be diagnosed at any age.

Currently, there are no medical tests that can diagnose autism.

A neurologist or a psychologist can perform an Autism assessment diagnosis. Your insurance company can direct you if you have insurance.

Autism Society Inland Empire has a variety of events, workshops and a monthly support group just for adults who think they may be on the spectrum or diagnosed later in life. Visit the calendar for the dates.
ieautism.org/events/

Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) provides support, community, and public policy advocacy by and for people on the autism spectrum.
autisticadvocacy.org

Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network (AWN) seeks to share information that works to build acceptance and understanding of disability
while dispelling stereotypes and misinformation that perpetuate unnecessary fears surrounding an autism diagnosis.
awnnetwork.org

Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) works to ensure that people with disabilities are treated as equals and are given the same decisions,
choices, rights, responsibilities, and chances to speak up to empower themselves as everyone else.
sabeusa.org

Diagnostic Services

Receiving a medical diagnosis is a personal decision and is based on different factors such as your financial resources and if you will be pursuing government services such as employment, social security, etc. To learn more about getting diagnosed as an adult, read this helpful article and scroll below to the section on getting diagnosed as an adult: Getting an Autism Spectrum Diagnosis / The Diagnostic Process. Another helpful article to read is AASPIRE Toolkit on Getting an Autism Evaluation.

Listed below are professionals and organizations that offer diagnostic services:

AB Psych Consulting – Dr. Anthony Benigno Psychologist
(909) 244-9593
10165 Foothill Blvd STE 3 Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation CDE-ages 2.5 to adults.
Wait time: few weeks
Accepts: IEHP, BLUE SHIELD, AETNA, CASH PAY

Autism Assessment Clinic of Excellence
(909) 799-3777
1499 S Tippecanoe Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92408
19314 Jesse Lane, Suite 200,Riverside, CA 92508
www.autismassessment4ie.org
The Inland Empire Autism Assessment Center of Excellence is an evaluation-only, non-profit organization that provides the gold standard of autism and neurodevelopmental evaluation. This is done through a Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation (CDE) process, as recommended by the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society. The CDE includes evaluation components from a team of experts in the fields of neurology, neuropsychology, occupational therapy, and speech and language pathology, all housed in one center. The outcome of the CDE for each child seen is definitive diagnoses, recommendations, and referrals. AAC has locations in San Bernardino and Riverside County.
Ages Served: Children, adolescents, and young adults can be seen up to their 21st birthday.
Insurance Accepted: Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), Loma Linda Risk Management, & Private Pay

Dr. Laurie Montes, PhD
805-746-7136
290 Maple Court, Suite 112, Ventura
Experienced diagnostician that specializes in diagnosing adults regardless
of age.

Autism Heroes
www.myautismheroes.com
(909) 312-3070
420 Brookside Ave, Redlands CA
Psych Diagnostic evaluation. Offers several services including
Diagnosis by a medical doctor for children, behavioral feeding therapy,
and sexuality training. Cash pay

Desert Insight Group- Dr Leticia Bautista Alfaro
www.desertinsight.com/about
35-325 Date Palm Dr. Ste.122, Cathedral City, CA 92234
Cathedral City 13+.Neuropsych/ADHD
Has a waitlist.

Gunn Psychological
www.gunnpsych.com
909-989-4055
8300 Utica Ave Unit 245 Rancho Cucamonga CA
Psych Diagnostic evaluation. Evaluations for children 12 months and up.
Commercial insurance (each doctor is paneled with different insurance
companies)

Karma Doctors and Associates
560 S Paseo Dorotea, Suite 4A Palm Springs, CA 92264
info@www.karmadocs.com
(951) 297 8375

Dr. Tanya Mesirow- Licensed Clinical Psychologist
https://drtanyamesirow.com
28991 Old Town Front STE 102 Temecula CA
951-775-4057
Specializes in psychological and neuropsychological assessment with
children, adolescents, and adults demonstrating a variety of
neurological issues, including head injuries, dementias, stroke,
learning disabilities, ADHD, and Autism spectrum disorders. Dr.
Mesirow also sees adults for individual psychotherapy treatment.

Neuron and Rose Psychological Services– Dr. Jessica Hogan, PsyD, LP
(805) 285-2307
www.neuronandrosepsychology.com
Provides Evaluations/Assessment for Autism, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, mood disorders, etc. Our team is passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming evaluations for teens and adults, which are conducted remotely via telehealth. We specialize in autism evaluations for women and high-masking individuals. We also love serving the LGBTQIA+ community and other marginalized populations. We are private pay and provide flexible payment plan options.

Pinnacle Counseling- Murrieta and San Diego
www.pinnaclecounselingca.com
41197 Golden Gate Circle Suite 206 Murrieta, CA 92562
951-396-5701
Offers a Psychological Diagnostic evaluation for ages 2.5 years
through adults. Cash pay only.

Quality Life Group – Dr. Kotomori
www.qualitylifegroup.com
6529 Riverside Ave Ste 133, Riverside
(951) 684 2627
Board certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and General
Psychiatry. An expert in the diagnosis and treatment of Psychiatric
Disorders and experienced with cultural issues and how they may
affect the presentation, course, and treatment of psychiatric
conditions.

Riverside Psychiatric Med Group, Dr. Antonius “Tony” Brandon
www.rivpsych.com
5887 Brockton Ave Ste A Riverside, CA
951-275-8500
Can perform a psychological diagnostic evaluation for ages 5 years
through adults. Accepts many insurances and cash pay.

San Diego Brainworks Temecula and San Diego
www.sdbrainworks.com
858-914-1347
Offers psychological diagnostic evaluations, specializing in
Comprehensive Psychoeducational/IEE, Learning Disorder, ADHD &
Autism Evaluations, Neuropsychological Assessments, EHRMS
Assessments, Psychological Testing, & Therapy. Accepts many
insurances and cash pay.

Dr. Ta Tanisha Jones, PsyD
Psychological And Substance Abuse Services, Inc
21250 Box Springs Rd, Suite 203, Moreno Valley, CA
951-335-5858
Diagnosis and substance issues. Takes IEHP.

Dr. Terry Matteo
www.terrymatteophd.com
74-710 HWY 111 Ste 102 Palm Desert CA
(480) 382-4142
Psychological testing for ages 18 months to adults. Cash pay only. Virtual only.

Dr. Victor Cordova PsyD
9033 Baseline Rd Ste A Rancho Cucamonga, CA
909-922-2442
Diagnosis only – Bilingual (Spanish). Accepts only IEHP.

Willowbrooks Behavioral Health
https://willowbrooksbehavioralhealth.com
818-918-6429
Locations in the Inland Empire: Apple Valley, Murrieta, Riverside, and
Upland They only do a 1-hour psych screening for ASD in adults. If
needed they will submit a CDE to IEHP/MOLINA. Also provides mental
health 1-1 counseling /family therapy. All females Psych D (1 bilingual
LMFT) ZOOM only. Currently booking 30-45 days for screening. Takes
IEHP, commercial insurance & cash pay.

On-Line Autism Tests

There are also several free online tests you can take that may indicate whether you are on the Autism spectrum or not. Please note that these online tests do not take the place of a professional diagnosis and only indicate that you may be on the Autism spectrum.

RDOS—Aspie-Quiz:
https://rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php
According to the website, this test aims to check for broader Autism cluster
(Aspie) and neurotypical traits in adults. Broader Autism clusters traits can
give a reliable indication of Autism spectrum traits before an eventual
diagnosis.

The Ultimate Autism Resource:
https://embrace-autism.com/
Provides additional Autism tests and assessments worth taking a look at.

The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R):
https://www.aspietests.org/raads/
According to the website, The RAADS-R is a modified version of the Ritvo
Autism Asperger’s Diagnostic Scale (Ritvo et al. 2008). The rationale for its
development was the need for a clinical adjunct diagnostic tool. While
several diagnostic scales for children and adolescents with ASD are
available, only one peer-reviewed scale, The Autism-Spectrum Quotient
(AQ) was designed specifically for adults. Its authors emphasize that it is
useful in identifying Autistic traits and as a screening instrument but not
as a diagnostic tool.