Assessment for Autism in Adults in Calgary
Autism in adults is generally characterized by difficulty in emotional reciprocity and understanding relationships. At Sharon Blott Psychological Services, we follow a specialized process for diagnosing and assessing autism in adults. We focus on giving adults specialized care and guidance. Like all other people, autistic people also have a wide range of strengths and weaknesses. The assessment processes that we use help individuals realize their potential. They can also help you understand the extent of the problem that you are facing. We offer psychological services in Calgary, Okotoks, and surrounding areas.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
According to the DSM-5, an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is manifested by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history:
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Deficits in social/emotional reciprocity
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Deficits in nonverbal communication behaviours
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Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships
This may include failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; abnormalities in eye contact and body language, a lack of facial expressiveness, an absence of interest in peers, difficulty in sharing imaginative play or in making friends, and difficulty adjusting one's behaviour to suit various social contexts.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is also manifested by restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following:
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Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements
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Use of objects or speech
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Insistence on sameness, highly restricted
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Fixated interests
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Hyper or hypo-reactivity to sensory input
Assessment
A typical autism assessment includes a measure of the following:
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Intellectual ability (WAIS-IV)
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Achievement (WIAT-III)
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Adaptive functioning (ABAS-3)
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Social and emotional functioning (BASC-3, PAI)
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Attention and concentration (if needed) – BASC-3, Conners 3rd, CAARS, CPT, CATA, IVA-AE2
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Executive functioning – BRIEF
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Autism Measures (ADI-R and ADOS-II)
For additional resources about autism in Calgary, visit The Ability Hub.
