For adults ages 18 and up needing an initial evaluation or re-evaluation, AZA United offers Adult Diagnostic Evaluations, which are available for either dependent adults or individuals who are their own guardian. All evaluations are overseen throughout by licensed Clinical Psychologists with specialized training in diagnosing autism and related conditions. All evaluations include the help of a Family Support Specialist to provide hands-on guidance with navigating systems of care after the diagnostic process is complete. Our goal is to provide each individual or family with the most accurate diagnosis possible to inform treatment decisions, and to make sure no one feels lost or alone after an evaluation is completed.
Program Highlights
- Comprehensive evaluations that consider the individual’s life history and circumstances
- Screening for a wide variety of related conditions to ensure an accurate diagnosis
- Includes post-diagnosis help from a Family Support Specialist at no extra cost
- Conducted by highly qualified Clinical Psychologists to support ALTCS/DDD documentation
- Many health insurance plans are accepted, including AHCCCS and DDD
- Available at several locations around the valley
Program Overview
Many people struggle to find Clinical Psychologists that offer comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for adults, especially when specialized expertise is required to accurately identify autism spectrum disorder in older individuals. AZA United understands how important this service is in our community and has created this program in response to the need.
By the time an individual reaches adulthood, the diagnostic process becomes significantly more complex. It is critical to obtain a full picture of the individual’s life history before arriving at a definitive diagnosis (or in some cases, several diagnoses). What may look like autism may in fact be something else, or there may be co-occurring conditions that would benefit from a more specialized treatment approach once the correct diagnosis is understood. Part of the process includes speaking with people that knew the individual when they were younger to identify which diagnostic criteria have been consistent over time versus which may have emerged later.
Examples of conditions that may be screened for in an Adult Diagnostic Evaluation include:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Other developmental disabilities
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Learning disorders & impairments
- Emotional/behavioral disorders
- Trauma, anxiety & depression
Areas that are beyond our scope include psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia), dissociative disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, and somatic symptom disorders. However, if symptoms appear to be better explained by any of these disorders, this will be noted and recommendations for further evaluation provided.
It is important to note that, although AZA United offers this rare specialty in adult diagnostic evaluations, this program will generally prioritize referrals/inquiries for children within families who have not yet received an evaluation to ensure we are focused on family-centered care. Therefore the wait times for adults can be lengthy depending on current demand and capacity.
All evaluations are directly overseen by a licensed Clinical Psychologist. Psychologists are present during the clinical intake interview as well as feedback session. Psychologists often administer in-person assessments as well, although these assessments can often be completed by another clinician who is specifically trained to accurately administer psychological assessments (e.g., intern, practicum student, psychometrist, etc.), which tends to expedite the evaluation process. As a training site for several university partners, graduate students may also participate in aspects of the evaluation under close supervision, helping us contribute to the development of the next generation of healthcare professionals with expertise in serving the autism community. The final diagnostic decisions, however, are only determined by a licensed psychologist.
AZA’s Model of Care
Adult Diagnostic Evaluations at AZA United align with best practices by including differential diagnoses of other conditions that may share similar symptoms. All relevant aspects of the individual’s skills and behaviors are assessed as they relate to the challenges they experience, and co-occurring conditions are considered and either diagnosed or ruled out. There is no maximum age limit for these evaluations, but we do ask individuals seeking evaluations for themselves to speak with a Family Support Specialist first to fully understand the diagnostic process and reason for seeking an evaluation, to ensure that the outcome will have a practical meaning that helps the individual with their current challenges. We typically do not conduct evaluations for adults who are simply curious if they might have autism but are not experiencing any significant life challenges that would be improved with a diagnosis.
