The Clinical Labyrinth (The Logic Trap)
For an adult player, seeking a formal autism diagnosis is not a simple doctor’s visit. It is an engagement with a Clinical Labyrinth—a multi-stage process of data collection, psychological observation, and hardware mapping. It’s not rocket appliances, but you need the right script to survive the encounter.
From a logistical standpoint, your goal is to provide the clinical NPC with a high-resolution dataset of your lived experience. The more precise your data, the more accurate the diagnostic output.
Stage 1: The Technical Pre-Brief (Intake)
The first stage is the intake interview. This is where you establish the “Reason for Referral.”
Leviticus’s Strategy: Do not simply say you “feel autistic.” Present a structured summary of your screening data (RAADS-R, AQ-10, CAT-Q) and a list of specific functional challenges you are experiencing. You are setting the technical parameters for the assessment.
Stage 2: The Neural Scan (Testing Battery)
This is the core of the process. Most clinicians use the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) or the ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised).
The Components of the Battery:
- ADOS-2: A series of structured and semi-structured tasks designed to observe social communication and repetitive behaviors in real-time.
- ADI-R: An intensive interview, usually conducted with a parent or caregiver, focusing on your early developmental history.
- Cognitive Profile: Many assessments include IQ testing (like the WAIS-IV) to identify discrepancies between different types of cognitive processing.
Stage 3: The Data Synthesis (Analysis)
Between the testing and the final report, the clinician performs a Data Synthesis. They map your specific traits and scores against the DSM-5 (or ICD-11) criteria.
This phase is invisible to you, but it is the most critical. This is where your individual experience is translated into the clinical language required for medical and legal recognition.
Stage 4: Rooftop Clarity (The Feedback)
The final stage is the feedback session. This is where the clinician presents the report and the formal diagnosis.
The Clarity Moment: For many adults, hearing the words “You met the criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder” is a moment of profound validation. It is the moment the “broken” narrative is replaced by the “technical manual” for your brain.
What the Report Should Contain:
- Formal Diagnosis: Clear statement of ASD.
- Cognitive Strengths: Identification of your high-performance areas.
- Recommendations: Specific accommodations for work, education, and daily life.
Diagnostic Prep Protocol:
- Metric Collection: Have all your online screening results ready in a PDF.
- Symptom Spreadsheet: Map your traits to the DSM-5 criteria (A and B).
- Developmental History: If possible, gather data from early childhood (milestones, social patterns).
- The ‘Hard Ask’: Ask the clinician specifically about their experience with high-masking adults.