Is it true that only a psychologist, psychiatrist, or neuropsychologist can diagnose autism in adults?
No. This is a common misconception. An unrestricted medical license, such as that held by Dr. Mark Evanko, is valid and legitimate to make a diagnosis of autism. Add to this Dr. Evanko’s 35+ years of clinical and diagnostic experience, knowledge of the presentation of autism in women and minority groups, and his qualifications to levy a diagnosis (where clinically apparent and supported by observational and documentary evidence) are exceptional.
We also refer to the respected AANE organization and its statements about assessments for autism in adults, which reads:
“Many individuals pursue neuropsychological testing with a neuropsychologist (Ph.D) or a psychiatrist (MD) … . The clinician will usually ask questions about your behavioral history, make behavioral observations, and administer various paper-and-pencil or computer-based tests to evaluate a range of cognitive, linguistic, and communicational abilities. … Any professional with the credentials and expertise to diagnose any other condition may also make a diagnosis of ASD.”
Assessment of autism at Wilderwood is a team effort. While the diagnosis is made under the medical license of Dr. Mark Evanko, the assessment process also involves Dr. Rebecca Evanko, who holds a research Ph.D in Cognitive Linguistics. Note the language from the AANE statement above that describes what is typically assessed in an evaluation: “…a range of cognitive, linguistic, and communicational abilities.” Moreover, her dissertation examined and analyzed differences between unfiltered (autistic) and filtered (non-autistic) thinking and communication. Dr. Evanko herself is also autistic.
Add to this that research into the often subtly nuanced presentation of autism in women and adult minorities is only recently emerging. As a result, many psychologists, psychiatrists, and other practitioners are not trained or experienced in the assessment of autism in women and adult minorities. As a specific example, we have had women who are clearly autistic speak or write of experiencing assessments where they have been told by psychologists or psychiatrists that they “cannot” be autistic because they “make eye contact” or “have a degree” or “don’t like trains” (unbelievably enough, this last one was told to us on two separate occasions).
An unrestricted medical license, such as that held by Dr. Mark Evanko, confers the practitioner’s ability to make diagnoses from the DSM-V: all diagnoses from the DSM-V. A psychologist or psychiatrist can also make diagnoses from the DSM-V; however, the latter licenses are restricted to psychological or psychiatric conditions. So, all these professionals can make the diagnosis of autism in adults. What makes the critical differential is the practitioner’s knowledge and experience of autism in women and minority adult populations.