Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Adults
Robert L. Mapou, Ph.D., ABPP
Overview
This workshop will provide an introduction to screening adults for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and determining when to refer for a more comprehensive assessment. The presenter will discuss how to take a history, preferably including parents and/or a partner/significant other, administration of rating scales, and consideration of co-occurring and rule-out diagnoses. The lack of research on gender and ethnicity in ASD assessment will be noted, along with the general lack of research on adult diagnosis. The presenter will conclude with a brief review of autism documentation requirements of the Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS).
Learning Objectives
(1) Identify key historical factors that can help diagnose or rule out ASD in adults.
(2) Apply interviews and rating scales when screening adults for ASD.
(3) Discuss how individual and gender differences affect diagnosis of ASD and the lack of research in this area overall.
(4) Identify common rule-out diagnoses.
(5) Describe DDDS ASD documentation requirements.
Bio
Dr. Robb Mapou is an ABPP board-certified clinical neuropsychologist practicing in Rehoboth Beach, DE and Chevy Chase, MD. He specializes in the evaluation of older adolescents and adults with neurodevelopmental disorder, as well as adults with neurological conditions. Dr. Mapou has been completing evaluations for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) since 2009 and was appointed as an FAA Consultant in Neuropsychology by the Federal Air Surgeon in 2019. He is also a consultant to the Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services and Princeton University. He holds faculty appointments in Psychiatry at USUHS and the Department of Neurology (Psychology) at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Financial Disclosure
Dr. Mapou receives royalties from Oxford University Press for his 2009 book, Adult Learning Disabilities and ADHD: Research-Informed Assessment. He also receives consultant fees as a contractor doing expert record reviews for the Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services, Princeton University, and the FAA.
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