Hi there! I got my official diagnosis a few days ago on May 9th. After reading your post, I get the feeling that you may be feeling a lot like I did for years. I am also insured through Medicaid, so I hope my response can help a little. I'll try to explain as briefly as I can: 1.) how you can find a professional to evaluate you and 2. ) how the evaluation process went for me, including a list of tests administered during the process.

If you'd like to know more, feel free to ask anything. I'm an open book.

1. Since you are insured by Medicaid, you should be able to find a directory for psychologists in your area on your State's version of the insurer's website. I have WellCare Medicaid of Georgia, so mine is probably on that list for my area, but that was not how I found her. She had actually evaluated both of my twins about a year ago, and suspected that I was autistic (like both of them) during the parent interview. This is just an opinion, but I recommend a psychologist - specifically - because that's how I got my diagnosis. My psychologist works in diagnosing both children and adults. You should be able to call the providers in the directory and explain that you feel quite strongly that a full evaluation - one that includes a potential diagnosis of ASD - would be appropriate for you. If they can't provide an official diagnosis, they may be able to refer you to another doctor who can.

As I stated before, after reading your post I feel like you may be having some feelings very similar to those I had for years. I was nervous and often reluctant to bring up anything to do with possibly being diagnosed with autism, because I was worried that any medical professional wouldn't give me an 'unbiased evaluation', and would just think I was 'self diagnosing', being 'generally paranoid', seeking disability, controlled substances, sympathy, etc... No good doctor should treat you that way, and if you run into one who does, I urge you not to take it personally. However, choosing a good doctor on Medicaid is key here, because most Medicaid plans will only allow an individual to be evaluated periodically (once each year or two) unless additional evaluations are warranted due to a medical recommendation or a legal necessity. I wouldn't necessarily print articles and highlight portions that you feel you can relate to, but I think you are definitely on the right track with jotting things down in a notebook and bringing that along.

Based on your family history of ASD, I don't believe any experienced medical professional would disregard the possibility that you may be on the spectrum as well.

2. My evaluation took place over the course of three appointments. At my first appointment - which was on April 20th and was about 90 minutes long - I was interviewed by the psychologist who asked questions and made notes about my responses. This was called my 'intake appointment'. I was given two forms to fill out myself, as well as another form for a close friend or family member to fill out. Those forms forms were completed and returned to my psychologist for my second appointment, which was on April 26th and was about 3 hours long. During the second appointment another staff member administered a series of tests, which I will list the names of at the end of my response. My third appointment was called my 'feedback appointment'. My third appointment was on May 9th, and it was about 90 minutes long. I received a printed detail of my evaluation with an official diagnosis, which I was asked to sit and read before speaking once more with the psychologist to ask questions, receive referrals for treatment, and/or to discuss with her any information in my feedback which I felt may be inaccurate.

The following list is - word for word - listed on my evaluation feedback. I'm unsure if these tests are all routine for any evaluation, or if they were given in my evaluation based solely on my answers provided to questions asked during my interview with the psychologist during my first appointment. You can probably search the individual test names for details about what they involve, and again, you are welcome to ask me anything you want. I'm an open book.

Tests Administered:
Detailed Clinical Interview With Client
Behavioral Observations
Wechsler Abbreviated Scales of Intelligence (WASI)
Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test-Second Edition (BG-II)
Conners' Continuous Performance Test, Third Edition (CPT-3)
Personal Problems Checklist - Adult
The Clinical Assessment of Attention-Deficit, Adult (CAT-A)
Trauma Symptom Inventory, Second Edition (TSI-2)
Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI)
Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition, Two Versions
- Adult Self-Report
- Relative/Other Report
Adult Sentence Completion Form
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

With regard to your inclination to believe another sibling may also be on the spectrum, that is completely normal and fine, and however you choose to approach - or not approach - that possibility is up to you. I would recommend possibly waiting for your own evaluation results before attempting to have a conversation about it. Speaking with your evaluating medical professional about that might be a good option.

I hope that was at least somewhat helpful, and I wish you luck.