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ACIA assessment. Autism in adults

A structured diagnostic interview for assessing the autism spectrum in adults. We combine a conversation with the person being assessed and with an informant, a close person, to build a full and reliable picture of functioning.

Autism spectrum in adultsInterview with an informantWritten report

Assessment

What is the ACIA assessment?

ACIA is a structured diagnostic interview used to assess the autism spectrum in adults. It organises the conversation so we can learn the developmental history and current functioning of the person consistently and thoroughly. Instead of a loose chat, we have a considered set of areas and questions, so nothing important slips through and the conclusions rest on concrete examples from life.

Diagnosing the spectrum in adulthood can be harder than in children. Adults spend years learning to mask their difficulties, and classic tools, designed mainly with children in mind, may miss them. That is why ACIA takes the life history and subtler signals into account, and we always treat it as part of a wider process, not a single result that settles the diagnosis.

Scope of the interview

What does the assessment cover?

ACIA organises the conversation around areas key to recognising the spectrum, building a full picture of the person's strengths and difficulties.

Communication

How the person communicates, understanding social context and non-literal language.

Social relationships

Building and sustaining relationships, reciprocity and understanding social situations.

Patterns and interests

Routines, the need for predictability, intense interests and sensory sensitivity.

Everyday functioning

Work, study, independence and coping with stress and sensory overload.

Two perspectives, a fuller pictureThe assessment combines an interview with the person being assessed and with an informant, someone who knows their developmental history or daily life. Some behaviours are hard to describe yourself, and certain patterns are only visible from the outside. The informant's involvement is arranged individually, always with the consent of the person being assessed.

Who it is for

When is it worth considering an assessment?

The ACIA assessment is helpful for adults who:

suspect they may be on the autism spectrum and want to check it reliably
have long felt they function differently but have never been assessed
experience sensory overload and exhaustion after social contact
have difficulties in relationships or keeping routines at work and at home
received other diagnoses in the past that do not explain the whole picture
want to understand themselves better and consciously look after their needs

A diagnosis is not a labelFor many adults, recognising the spectrum is a relief, not a verdict. It gives language to talk about their needs and lets them plan support consciously. We write about this at length in the article ACIA, assessing autism in adults.

Combining methods

ACIA, ADOS-2 and ADI-R

No single tool is enough to diagnose the spectrum. The gold standard is combining methods, so the picture is built from several angles.

ACIA, interview

A structured interview about the developmental history and daily functioning of an adult.

ADOS-2

Structured observation of behaviour in direct contact, here and now.

ADI-R

An in-depth interview reconstructing the developmental history, usually with a close person.

ACIA assessment, 600 złThe price covers the interview with the person being assessed, the interview with an informant and a written report.

See pricing

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ACIA assessment. Autism in adults

What is the ACIA assessment?