Exploring the experiences of healthcare professionals carrying out the autism assessment/diagnostic process with adults – a qualitative study

Purpose Getting an autism diagnosis as an adult can be a complex and challenging process which can often include more complexities and considerations in comparison with assessments for children. This purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of professionals who assess adults for autism, to understand what makes the process complex and how it could be improved. Design/methodology/approach Eight semi-structured interviews were carried out with professionals experienced in assessing adults for autism. Interviews were recorded and transcripts were analysed thematically. Findings Three themes emerged from the data: 1. Difficulties unique to assessing adults, 2. The impact of clinical experience and 3. Suggestions for improving the assessment process for adults. The results of this study emphasise the need for development/modification of adult-appropriate tools which are designed specifically for adults as well as consideration of other limitations (such as difficulties obtaining developmental histories). Before this can be done, we need a clear consensus on the understanding of the heterogenous presentation of autism, as agreed by both professionals and autistic people. With a greater demand for assessments, there is a danger that the assessment process will be compromised. To avoid this, professionals require adequate training and support, and diagnostic tools should be used as part of a holistic assessment rather than the sole diagnostic determinant. Originality/value While most previous research focused on professional’s experiences assessing children (e.g. Jacobs et al., 2018) or combined experiences of assessing/diagnosing both children and adults (Crane et al., 2018; Rogers et al., 2016), research has yet to explore professional experiences unique to the process of assessing/diagnosing autistic adults.