Understanding Your Neurodivergent Test Results
Expert guidance on interpreting neurodivergent assessment results, understanding what your scores mean, and planning meaningful next steps toward support and success.
Making Sense of Your Results
Receiving neurodivergent test results can bring relief, validation, confusion, or a mix of emotions. Understanding what your results mean and knowing your options for next steps is crucial for making informed decisions about your care and support.
This comprehensive guide helps you interpret different types of neurodivergent assessment results, understand their limitations, and create a meaningful action plan for your unique situation.
Validate your experiences
Confirm observed patterns
Guide next steps
Direct support planning
Focus interventions
Target specific areas
Interpreting Your Scores
Understanding Score Ranges
Most neurodivergent assessments use standardized scoring systems that compare your responses to established norms. Here's how to interpret common score ranges:
High Likelihood
Strong indication of neurodivergent traits
Moderate Likelihood
Some traits present, further evaluation recommended
Low Likelihood
Few traits identified in current assessment
- Attention & Focus: Concentration and task persistence
- Executive Function: Planning and organization skills
- Social Communication: Interpersonal interaction patterns
- Sensory Processing: Environmental sensitivity responses
- Emotional Regulation: Managing feelings and reactions
- Behavioral Flexibility: Adapting to change and transitions
Factors That Influence Results
Several factors can affect assessment results and should be considered when interpreting scores:
- • Current stress levels
- • Recent life changes
- • Sleep and health status
- • Medication effects
- • Age and development stage
- • Testing environment
- • Time of day taken
- • Distractions present
- • Comfort with technology
- • Language barriers
- • Honesty and openness
- • Self-awareness level
- • Masking behaviors
- • Social desirability bias
- • Question interpretation
Types of Assessment Results
Different types of neurodivergent assessments provide different kinds of information. Understanding what each type can and cannot tell you is essential for proper interpretation.
Initial assessments that identify potential areas of concern
What they provide:
- • Quick identification of likely traits
- • General guidance for further evaluation
- • Self-awareness and validation
- • Starting point for professional discussion
Limitations:
- • Not diagnostic or definitive
- • May miss subtle presentations
- • Cannot rule out other conditions
- • Limited depth of assessment
Detailed evaluations covering multiple domains and informants
What they provide:
- • Detailed trait profiles
- • Strength and challenge identification
- • Specific recommendations
- • Multiple perspective integration
Limitations:
- • Still requires professional interpretation
- • May not capture all presentations
- • Point-in-time snapshot only
- • Cultural factors may influence results
Planning Your Next Steps
Your assessment results are the beginning of a journey, not the end. Here's how to create a meaningful action plan based on your specific results and goals.
Immediate Next Steps
- 1Research Professional Options: Find qualified clinicians for formal evaluation if desired.
- 2Document Your Experiences: Keep a record of challenges and strengths for professional discussion.
- 3Explore Support Resources: Connect with communities and educational materials.
- 1Consider Other Factors: Explore other explanations for your experiences (stress, medical conditions, etc.).
- 2Take Additional Assessments: Try other validated tools or wait and reassess later.
- 3Focus on Specific Challenges: Address individual difficulties regardless of diagnostic labels.
Long-term Planning Considerations
- • Self-advocacy skill building
- • Coping strategy development
- • Strength identification and leveraging
- • Support network building
- • Ongoing self-assessment
- • Formal diagnostic evaluation
- • Therapeutic interventions
- • Medication consultation
- • Coaching or counseling
- • Regular progress monitoring
- • Workplace accommodations
- • Educational support planning
- • Relationship communication
- • Daily routine optimization
- • Future goal adjustment
When and How to Seek Professional Consultation
Types of Professionals
- Clinical Psychologists: Comprehensive psychological assessment and therapy
- Psychiatrists: Medical evaluation and medication management
- Neuropsychologists: Detailed cognitive and neurological assessment
- Licensed Counselors: Therapeutic support and coping strategies
- Specialized Coaches: Practical skills and daily living support
Questions to Ask Providers
- • What is your experience with adult neurodivergent assessment?
- • What assessment tools do you use?
- • How long does the evaluation process take?
- • What are the costs and insurance coverage?
- • Can you provide ongoing support after assessment?
Preparing for Professional Consultation
- • Your assessment results and interpretation
- • Medical history and current medications
- • Educational records and work evaluations
- • Previous mental health assessments
- • Family history of neurodivergent conditions
- • List of current challenges and strengths
- • What do my assessment results suggest?
- • Do I need formal diagnosis for my goals?
- • What treatment or support options are available?
- • How can I get accommodations at work/school?
- • What lifestyle changes might help?
- • How often should I reassess my needs?
Support Resources and Communities
Connecting with appropriate support resources can provide ongoing guidance, community, and practical assistance as you navigate your neurodivergent journey.
ADHD Communities
- • r/ADHD (Reddit community)
- • CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD)
- • ADHD support groups on Facebook
- • How to ADHD YouTube channel
Autism Communities
- • Autistic Self Advocacy Network
- • r/autism and r/aspergirls
- • Actually Autistic Twitter community
- • Local autism support groups
Assessment Resources
- • American Psychological Association
- • International Neuropsychological Society
- • ADHD Aware Australia
- • Autism Society of America
Support Services
- • Vocational rehabilitation services
- • Disability resource centers
- • Mental health crisis lines
- • Educational advocacy organizations
Addressing Common Concerns
Assessment results can be influenced by many factors and may not capture your full experience. Consider them as one piece of information rather than definitive truth.
- • Take multiple assessments over time
- • Seek professional evaluation for comprehensive assessment
- • Trust your own experiences and observations
- • Remember that self-knowledge is more important than labels
Concerns about stigma are valid and personal. You control how much you share and with whom.
- • Disclosure is entirely your choice
- • Focus on seeking support rather than labels
- • Consider the benefits of self-understanding
- • Connect with communities that celebrate neurodiversity
Sharing assessment results with others can be challenging but also helpful for building understanding and support.
- • Start with trusted individuals who are supportive
- • Share educational resources to build understanding
- • Focus on how they can best support you
- • Set boundaries about what you're comfortable discussing
Documentation and Record Keeping
Maintaining good records of your assessment results and related experiences can be valuable for future healthcare visits, accommodations requests, and personal tracking.
- • Original assessment results and scores
- • Date and circumstances of testing
- • Interpretation notes and recommendations
- • Professional consultations and outcomes
- • Accommodation requests and approvals
- • Changes in symptoms or functioning over time
- • Successful strategies and interventions
- • Create a dedicated folder (physical or digital)
- • Use consistent naming and dating systems
- • Keep backup copies in secure locations
- • Maintain privacy and security of sensitive information
- • Regular review and updates of documentation
- • Easy access for healthcare appointments
- • Consider using health apps for tracking
Creating Ongoing Support Systems
Building Your Support Network
- • Family members who understand
- • Friends who provide encouragement
- • Romantic partners who are supportive
- • Mentors or role models
- • Peer support group members
- • Primary healthcare provider
- • Mental health professionals
- • Educational or workplace consultants
- • Specialized coaches or trainers
- • Legal advocates if needed
- • Online neurodivergent communities
- • Local support groups
- • Professional networking groups
- • Recreational or hobby communities
- • Advocacy organizations
Take the Next Step in Your Journey
Start with our comprehensive assessment to better understand your neurodivergent traits and plan your support strategy.
Related Resources
Adult Assessment Guide
Comprehensive guide to neurodivergent testing for adults including preparation and process.
Expert-Recommended Tests
Professional top picks for neurodivergent assessment tools with expert validation.
Online Testing Accuracy Guide
Expert analysis of online assessment accuracy and reliability research.