Is this Autism: A Companion Guide for Diagnosis

Is This Autism? A Companion Guide for Diagnosis is a highly practical and compassionate clinical resource designed to help professionals accurately assess the possibility of autism in children, adolescents, and adults. Serving as a companion to Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else, this book addresses a growing need in the field as modern understandings of autism have rapidly evolved, leaving many clinicians feeling uncertain about how to apply current knowledge within traditional diagnostic frameworks.

As awareness of autism has expanded—particularly regarding late-identified, masked, and underrepresented autistic individuals—many people continue to go unidentified or unsupported. This guide responds directly to that gap by offering a clear, structured, and neurodiversity-affirmative approach to autism assessment that respects autistic experiences while maintaining clinical rigor.

The book provides in-depth guidance on current assessment methods, including:

• Clinical and developmental interviewing

• Rating scales and standardized measures

• Self-report questionnaires

• Social cognition and executive functioning tests

• Behavioral observations across settings

In addition, the authors address essential cultural, gender, and contextual considerations, helping clinicians recognize how autism may present differently across diverse populations. Common diagnostic pitfalls and misconceptions are clearly explained, along with strategies for avoiding misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis.

A key strength of the book is its focus on the human side of diagnosis. It offers thoughtful guidance on how to communicate findings sensitively, involve clients collaboratively in the assessment process, and provide appropriate support and next steps following diagnosis or identification.

Grounded in both research and clinical practice, Is This Autism? A Companion Guide for Diagnosis is especially valuable for identifying autistic individuals who have historically been overlooked, including adults, women, and those with co-occurring conditions. It is an essential resource for psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, pediatricians, and other healthcare professionals seeking to deliver ethical, inclusive, and effective autism assessments.