The DSM-5 text revision, released in March of 2022, provides additional guidance on diagnosing autism spectrum disorder, acknowledging that some autistic people will learn to mask their traits and that adult women tend to mask the most. It also provides additional descriptions of more subtle presentations of various diagnostic criteria.  

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Although autism spectrum disorder is typically diagnosed in children, research shows that more subtle presentations of ASD are often not identified until adulthood. Adult diagnosis is particularly common in autistic women, who are less likely to display stereotypical autistic traits and are more likely to internalize their presentation. Diagnosing autism in adults requires some modification of the typical approach used to diagnose children, including the use of different screening tools. As with child diagnosis, parental input is frequently sought for the diagnosis, but significantly more weight is placed on the individual’s self-report in adult diagnosis. 

Diagnosing ASD in Adults (DSM-5)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., Text revision). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

DSM-5-TR

Autism in the DSM-5-TR

- Autism Quotient and Short Autism Quotient (AQ and AQ-10) 
- Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised (RAADS-R)
- Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) 
- Repetitive Behaviours Questionnaire (RBQ-2A) 
- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), Module 4 

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