Adult Diagnosis

Late autism diagnoses are becoming more commonplace as more information about autism is made readily available. Many people  connect with Autism Ontario to find psychologists or psychiatrists who can assess autism in adulthood, after realizing that an autism diagnosis might help explain why they’ve felt different from their peers. While Autism Ontario does not provide diagnoses for adults or children, there are resources we can provide to assist people with their search.  

There are a variety of reasons why people may seek out diagnosis as adults, and the pathways for this are not always clear or accessible. Where you live in Ontario will likely impact your access to a professional who can conduct these assessments.  

Similar to seeking diagnostic assessment in childhood, there are two ways adults may access diagnosis: through the public system or the private system. To find a publicly funded professional, they may request a referral from a general practitioner to either a psychiatrist or a psychologist who is employed in a public healthcare setting. These two options are funded by the Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP).  

Adults may also be referred or self-refer to a psychologist working on a fee-for-service basis in the community. These services may be covered by some private insurance plans; however, they are not covered by OHIP or by Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits. 

It is important to know that while some psychiatrists do conduct adult assessments for autism in Ontario, these are most often completed by psychologists. This distinction is important, as receiving an assessment as an adult from a psychiatrist is covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), while most often assessments completed by psychologists are not covered by OHIP, though they may be covered by some private insurance plans.