This special blog post is written by Dr. Jaime Long, a psychologist at Help and Healing Center. Dr. Long is passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming psychological evaluations. She wrote this blog to help potential clients understand her assessment process, ensuring they feel comfortable and prepared for their evaluation appointment.

How Do We Assess Autism in High-Masking Individuals?

One of the biggest challenges in autism assessments is evaluating individuals who mask their traits, especially women. Many people worry about how their masking might affect the evaluation process. Dr. Long understands this concern and approaches assessments in a way that allows clients to unmask and share their true experiences.

She has conducted both in-person and remote autism assessments and has found that many clients feel more comfortable at home. A familiar environment reduces anxiety, making it easier to be open about personal experiences.

Creating a Comfortable Evaluation Process

Dr. Long recognizes that assessments can be stressful, which is why she creates an environment where clients feel safe to be themselves. Whether it’s stimming, pacing, rocking, or holding a comforting object, clients are encouraged to engage in whatever makes them feel at ease.

Dr. Long also relates to her clients on a personal level. As a neurodivergent individual with high-masking traits, she understands the subtle challenges that many clinicians might overlook.

For example, she shares that although she appears outgoing and friendly, she avoids initiating conversations and even hides from neighbors. This kind of experience helps her recognize the hidden struggles that many autistic individuals face, even if they appear to function well in certain social settings.

Going Beyond Traditional Assessments

Unlike traditional autism evaluations that focus on eye contact and body language, Dr. Long looks deeper. She understands that many autistic individuals have learned to mask their traits by:

Studying social interactions.
Watching YouTube videos to learn social cues.
Mimicking others to fit in.
Constantly analyzing and replaying conversations.

For neurotypical individuals, social interactions feel automatic, like driving with an automatic transmission. For neurodivergent individuals, it’s like driving with manual gears, requiring constant effort and energy.

Dr. Long asks insightful questions to understand these experiences rather than just evaluating external behaviors.

What to Expect During the Evaluation

Many clients find that they feel heard and understood during the evaluation. Dr. Long takes a kind and gentle approach, creating a space where people feel comfortable sharing thoughts they may have never told anyone before.

To make the process easier, clients receive an Autism Planner before their evaluation. This document includes a list of topics covered in the assessment, allowing individuals to reflect and prepare. Some clients may not feel comfortable discussing certain topics during the interview, but Dr. Long reviews the planner later to ensure nothing is overlooked. Clients are also welcome to email additional thoughts after the assessment.

Understanding High-Masking and Functioning Levels

Many high-masking individuals have successful careers and appear to function well on the surface. However, this doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling.

Dr. Long sees clients who:

Appear highly functional at work but collapse from exhaustion at home.
Struggle with basic tasks like filling out forms, showering, or taking out the trash.
Can socialize at events but need days to recover afterward.

Unlike some doctors who rule out autism if a person can hold a conversation or succeed in their career, Dr. Long looks at the effort it takes to maintain that success. She asks:

Does it take everything you have to function at this level?
Is your success coming at the cost of your well-being?

If the answer is yes, she works with clients to find solutions that make life more manageable.

A Personalized and Understanding Approach

Dr. Long values the trust her clients place in her and appreciates their willingness to be vulnerable. Her goal is to provide the most accurate and affirming evaluation possible, helping individuals understand themselves and access the support they need.

Where Dr. Long and Dr. Myszak Offer Evaluations

Dr. Jessica Myszak and Dr. Jaime Long have extensive experience in psychological evaluations for children and adults. They offer both in-person and telehealth assessments for clients across multiple states, including:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Dr. Long is also available for clients in New York and California.

Start Your Evaluation Process Today

If you are considering an autism or ADHD evaluation, Dr. Long and Dr. Myszak are here to help. Their compassionate and neurodiversity-affirming approach ensures that clients feel understood and supported throughout the process.

To learn more or schedule an evaluation, contact the Help and Healing Center today.