Recently, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how to find someone who can diagnose you with ADHD and/or autism. I do have a longer video detailing my entire diagnosis process, including the interview sessions, paperwork, and every single step. In that video, I briefly touched on this topic, but I wanted to spend a little more time focusing specifically on finding a diagnostician and my experiences.
Hi, I’m Brett, The AuDHD Boss, and on this channel, we talk about ADHD and autism in the workplace. With over 10 years of leadership experience and training, I also have a formal diagnoses of autism and ADHD.
My Initial Steps Towards Diagnosis (Self-Diagnosis Exploration)
My journey began during the pandemic, and I was already exploring an informal ADHD self-diagnosis. I was uncertain about fully self-diagnosing, but I was moving in that direction. In the summer of 2021, I was really thinking a lot about how much I felt this was real and that I needed to look into it, but I wasn’t sure where to go or how to start.
Challenges and Considerations (Primary Care Physician, Cost)
It didn’t immediately occur to me to call my primary care physician. At that time, my doctor had just left, and I was in between doctors, preparing to move to a new one, so I didn’t have an established relationship. I was also nervous about discussing the possibility of autism or ADHD with my primary care doctorbecause I was unsure if I wanted that on my medical record. I had heard stories about people not being believed regarding their ADHD and autism diagnoses, and facing dismissal or not having their needs met. Therefore, I wanted to be careful in my approach. I was also concerned about the potential cost of an autism and ADHD diagnosis and wanted to see what my insurance would cover.
Navigating the Search for a Diagnostician (Insurance, Psychiatrists)
My search began by looking at doctors already approved by my insurance. I started by checking my insurance website and searching for ADHD/autism diagnosing doctors in my area, including options in three different states. I found some who were accepting new patients and others who weren’t.
I dedicated time to researching each doctor, looking at Reddit forums and various review sites. My goal was to find someone accommodating, and importantly, someone who worked with adults. Finding adult-centric services was surprisingly difficult. I discovered an ADHD diagnosing facility right up the street from me that only focused on youth. It seemed logical that there would be services for adults since autistic children become autistic adults. However, there were fewer options in my community than I expected.
I began making calls to explore what was possible. Initially, due to the pandemic, many places weren’t taking new patients for several months. Some reviews were mixed, which made me hesitant. I was specifically looking for psychiatrists. I wasn’t seeking a referral; I wanted a psychiatrist who was up-to-date with the latest research.
The Importance of Current Research (Co-diagnosis)
It wasn’t until 2013 that co-diagnoses of ADHD and autism became possible, and this was 2021. This was still relatively new. I was looking for someone knowledgeable about the most recent autism experiences. I had learned from the online community about some diagnosing doctors holding onto outdated ideas about autism. So, I wanted someone familiar with the latest information on autism and specifically ADHD. As I searched, I researched everyone’s writings, thoughts, and patient reviews. I was trying to find the right fit. It was challenging to get in with anyone at that time, and getting clear information about costs was difficult.
Embrace Autism and Self-Diagnosis (Online Resources)
I then turned to the website Embrace Autism. While based in Canada and unable to take my insurance, they offer free diagnosing information on their website. They support self-diagnosis and provide resources that are helpful whether you continue with their paid services or take the information to a local doctor for a formal diagnosis. This information was really helpful for my own self-diagnosing journey.
Embrace Autism (Tiered Costs)
Embrace Autism offered tiered levels of assessment costs. You could start at a lower price point for an initial autism assessment, and then continue to the next level if it seemed appropriate. Even their tiered costs were more affordable than other options I had found. I decided to start with the first level.
As I went through that process, (and you can find the details in my other video), one of the psychiatric offices I had contacted earlier called me. They had an opening in a few months. This was around late September or early October, and the appointment was for late November. I continued with the first level of the Embrace Autism process. The results from this stage indicated that there were enough signs to suggest an autism diagnosis if I continued the process. However, they couldn’t provide a formal diagnosis without completing all the steps. I decided to stop there and take what I had learned to the psychiatrist I was scheduled to see. For me, that was enough to feel self-diagnosed. It was incredibly affirming.
My Experience with Embrace Autism (Questionnaires, Unmasking)
My experience with Embrace Autism was amazing. The information was easy to understand and follow. I had no issues and probably shared more information about myself than they needed. The questionnaire was very helpful for me in terms of unmasking, self-discovery, and understanding different aspects of my autism. It was an amazing experience.
Formal Diagnosis and the Role of Unmasking (Insurance)
Fast forward, my insurance covered a significant portion of the costs with the psychiatrist, and they were happy to incorporate the information from Embrace Autism. This significantly reduced the overall cost and time of the assessment.
Something I didn’t mention in my main diagnosis video but did share in a YouTube Short, was the importance of masking. I had discussed at length in the Embrace Autism paperwork and interviews how recognizing masking in myself was key to understanding my autism and ADHD. It was a huge “aha” moment. In the psychiatrist’s office, I realized I needed to unmask. If there was ever a time to unmask, this was it. As a slow processor (which was something that came up during my diagnosis), I had to coach myself to let my autistic traits show. Ultimately, it was important that I did unmask because those traits were noted in my report. The diagnosing doctor observed that I was letting my traits come through and becoming more at ease.
I acknowledge that I was in a privileged position to have insurance coverage. However, Embrace Autism, while not taking insurance because they are based in Canada, was considerably more affordable than many US diagnosing options, with or without insurance.
Accessibility and Resources (Self-Diagnosis, Neurodivergent Insights)
Ultimately, if you can’t afford a formal diagnosis, I strongly recommend checking out the free resources on Embrace Autism‘s website, where you can pursue self-diagnosis.
I also highly recommend neurodivergent insights.com, run by Dr. Megan Ann Neff (who you might recognize from my burnout video). Dr. Neff is the author of “Self-Care for Autistic People” and “The Autistic Burnout Workbook” (links in the description). Her website offers many free resources, including a directory for finding autistic and ADHD therapists.
I hope this information is useful and helpful. If you’d like to see my full video about the diagnosis process, including the interview session and questionnaires, please check it out on my channel. Please like and subscribe to support my channel and help get this information to more people. I tend to share my specific experiences, hoping they can help others. Thanks for watching!
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