Where Can I Get Tested for Autism as an Adult?
Where Can I Get Tested for Autism as an Adult?
If you've been Googling “Where can I get tested for autism as an adult?”, you may have already spent a lot of time trying to figure this out on your own.
Maybe you've taken every autism quiz you can find online.
Maybe you've been watching videos about masking, sensory sensitivity, burnout, or ADHD and thinking, Wait... that's me.
Maybe you've always felt different but never had an explanation for why certain things seem to come so much more easily to other people.
Or maybe you've known for years that something about the way your brain works is different, but you're finally ready to get some answers.
If you're an adult looking for an autism evaluation, I can help.
I'm Dr. Salena Justice, a licensed psychologist licensed in 44 states, and I specialize in autism evaluations for adults, particularly adults who are high-masking, late-identified, or questioning whether autism might explain some of their lifelong experiences.
I Provide Adult Autism Testing in 44 States.
My practice is based in Brevard, NC, in Western North Carolina, and I provide autism assessments for adults both in person and virtually in 44 states eligible clients.
I work with adults who may have spent years wondering:
Why do social situations leave me completely exhausted?
Why do I need so much alone time after interacting with people?
Why are certain sounds, textures, lights, or environments so overwhelming?
Why do changes in plans feel disproportionately difficult?
Why do I feel like I'm constantly performing or trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do?
Why can I manage some things incredibly well but completely shut down over seemingly simple tasks?
Why have I always felt different, even when I seem to be doing fine from the outside?
Could this be autism?
Could it be autism and ADHD?
You don't need to already know the answer.
That's what the evaluation is for.
Why Adult Autism Testing Is Different
One of the biggest reasons I specialize in adult autism assessments is that autism doesn't always look the way people expect it to in adults.
Especially if you've spent years learning how to mask.
You may have developed scripts for conversations. You may have learned how to make eye contact. You may be successful at work. You may have close relationships. You may even be the person everyone else thinks has everything together.
But what people see on the outside doesn't always tell the whole story.
That's why my evaluations don't focus solely on observable behavior or whether you “look autistic.”
Instead, I want to understand your internal experience.
My evaluation process looks at your developmental history, communication, sensory experiences, repetitive behaviors and interests, masking and compensatory strategies, executive functioning, emotional regulation, relationships, and the ways these experiences have affected your life.
I Specialize in High-Masking and Late-Identified Adults
Many of the adults who come to me weren't identified as autistic as children.
They may have been described as:
Shy
Sensitive
Anxious
Perfectionistic
“Gifted”
Awkward
Dramatic
Too intense
A people-pleaser
A worrier
Someone who “just needs to relax”
You may have learned to compensate so effectively that other people don't understand why you're struggling.
And sometimes, the harder you've worked to appear like you're doing fine, the harder it can be for someone unfamiliar with adult autism to recognize what's actually happening.
Masking doesn't mean you're not autistic.
It means you've learned ways to navigate a world that may not naturally fit your brain.
I take that into account during the evaluation process.
What Is Included in My Adult Autism Evaluation?
I don't believe an autism evaluation should feel like filling out a few questionnaires and receiving a label.
My assessments include multiple components designed to create a more complete picture of your experiences.
Standardized assessment measures
I use research-supported, adult-appropriate assessment tools as one part of the evaluation process.
These aren't used in isolation. They're considered alongside your history, interview, observations, and overall clinical presentation.
An in-depth clinical interview
This is where we go beyond the checkboxes.
We'll talk about your experiences throughout your life, including things like:
Social communication
Relationships and friendships
Sensory experiences
Routines and need for predictability
Repetitive behaviors
Special interests
Emotional regulation
Executive functioning
Work and school
Burnout
Masking
Communication
Your developmental history
My goal isn't to rush you through a list of symptoms.
I want to understand your story.
A comprehensive written report
You'll receive a detailed report that explains the evaluation findings, diagnostic impressions, and recommendations.
If you receive an autism diagnosis, the report can also provide documentation that may be useful when pursuing accommodations or advocating for support.
And if you don't meet criteria for autism, I won't simply hand you a “no” and send you on your way.
The evaluation can still help identify what's contributing to your experiences and what kinds of support may be useful.
What If I'm Not Sure I'm Autistic?
That's completely okay.
You don't need to walk into an evaluation saying, “I know I'm autistic.”
You can simply say:
“I think I might be autistic, but I'm not sure.”
In fact, that's one of the most common reasons adults seek an evaluation.
Maybe you've identified with autistic people online.
Maybe a friend or therapist suggested autism.
Maybe you've been diagnosed with ADHD and are wondering whether there's something else going on.
Maybe you've experienced years of burnout and are trying to understand why.
Or maybe you've simply reached a point where you want an answer.
You are allowed to be curious.
What If I've Already Been Diagnosed With Something Else?
That's also common.
Autism can overlap with or be mistaken for other conditions, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma-related conditions, and others.
That doesn't mean previous diagnoses were necessarily wrong.
It means your experiences can be more complicated than one diagnosis explains.
Part of my job as a psychologist is to look at the bigger picture and consider what best explains your experiences.
I also offer combined autism and ADHD evaluations for adults who are wondering whether both may be part of their experience.
What If I Mask Really Well?
This is one of the questions I hear most often.
And the short answer is:
Being good at masking doesn't automatically mean you're not autistic.
If you've spent years studying social rules, rehearsing conversations, copying other people's behavior, suppressing sensory discomfort, or pushing yourself through situations that are exhausting, those strategies are important information.
During an evaluation, I want to understand not just what you can do, but what it takes to do it.
That's a big distinction.
Two people might both be able to attend a party for three hours.
About Dr. Salena Justice
Dr. Salena Justice is a Licensed Psychologist who specializes in working with high-masking, late-identified autistic adults. She provides autism assessments and skills-based therapy focused on burnout recovery, executive functioning, communication, and creating sustainable routines that work with your brain, not against it. Dr. Justice offers in-person services in Brevard, North Carolina, and virtual sessions throughout participating PSYPACT states. If you're looking for support in understanding yourself, reducing overwhelm, and building practical skills for everyday life, learn more about working with Dr. Justice.
