Some Things Start to Make Sense Later in Life
Many adults who come to us have spent decades being misunderstood—by others, and sometimes by themselves. A formal autism evaluation doesn't change who you are. It explains who you've always been. And that kind of clarity, at any age, can be genuinely life changing.
Something Finally Clicked
For some adults, the moment comes during a child's evaluation — when the clinician's description lands a little too close to home. For others, it's a book, a Reddit thread, or even a single sentence that finally identifies something previously unknown.
Either way, something shifted. And now you're here.
You may have spent years adapting, performing and compensating. You may have also collected diagnoses that explained some things but never quite the whole picture. What you haven't yet received is an evaluation built specifically around you — your history, your patterns, your life.
That's what we do.
Adult Autism Was Missed for Decades
For decades, autism research and diagnostic criteria focused almost exclusively on children — and within that, on a particular presentation of autism in boys. Entire populations were systematically missed: adults, women, and people with strong verbal skills who learned to mask effectively.
That's changing. Autism in adults is now widely recognized by clinicians, researchers, and the adults themselves who are seeking answers in growing numbers. A late diagnosis is not unusual. It is not a lesser diagnosis. And at Autism Centers of Pittsburgh, it is not an afterthought.
What We Evaluate
We evaluate adults 18 and older — no upper age limit. Our comprehensive assessment includes autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring conditions.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Comprehensive assessment of social communication, sensory processing, and behavioral patterns.
ADHD & ADD
Attention and executive function evaluation, including inattention, hyperactivity, and impulse control.
Anxiety Disorders
Assessment of anxiety presentations and their relationship to autism and other conditions.
Mood & Depression
Evaluation of mood-related conditions and how they may overlap with or mask autism.
Sensory Processing
Assessment of sensory sensitivities and differences in how you process sensory information.
Learning & Executive Function
Comprehensive evaluation of learning profiles, memory, organization, and planning abilities.
Many adults who pursue evaluation are doing so after years of treatment for anxiety or depression that never fully addressed what was underneath. A comprehensive evaluation can recontextualize prior diagnoses and open doors to supports that are actually matched to your neurology.
The Adult Evaluation Process
Intake & Scheduling
Reach out to us and our intake team takes it from there. We'll verify your insurance, confirm authorization, and get you scheduled. Self-referrals are welcome — no physician referral required.
Clinical Interview
Before any testing begins, Dr. Carosso sits down with you. This in-depth conversation covers your developmental history, school and work experiences, relationships, and any prior diagnoses or treatments.
Direct Observation & Conversation
Dr. Carosso spends focused time with you in a relaxed, unhurried setting. His clinical observations capture how you communicate, process, and present when you're simply being yourself.
Standardized Testing
You'll complete a tailored battery of assessments — cognitive, neuropsychological, behavioral, and autism-specific — selected based on your individual history and concerns.
Records Review
With your permission, Dr. Carosso reviews any prior evaluations, mental health records, or relevant documentation from your past. Earlier records often reveal patterns present all along.
Post-Testing Follow-Up
Within 24 to 48 hours, you'll receive a summary email with key takeaways. Your full comprehensive report arrives within four weeks, by mail or email.
Final Check-In
About a week after your report arrives, Dr. Carosso personally reconnects with you. A real conversation to answer your questions and ensure confidence about what comes next.
The Lowenstein Difference: Integrated Medical Care When You Need It
Many adults who come to us for an evaluation arrive with years of prior mental health treatment already behind them — anxiety, depression, mood disorders — diagnoses that may have helped some, but never quite explained everything. If that's your story, you're not starting from scratch. You're finally getting the full picture.
If medication is part of what comes next, Dr. Robert Lowenstein, M.D. — a board-certified psychiatrist — is available within our practice. No new intake with a stranger. No explaining your history from the beginning. Just continued care from a team that already knows your case.
Dr. Robert Lowenstein, M.D.
Frequently Asked Questions
You've Waited Long Enough
For years you've been struggling to figure things out alone — and making it look easier than anyone realized. That chapter doesn't have to continue. One evaluation. One conversation. One step toward finally understanding yourself on your own terms.
SCHEDULE AN ADULT EVALUATION