News and Research
Science-backed Information for Better Care

Last reviewed: 03/09/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re searching for an AuDHD therapist , you may already know what you don’t  want: therapy that treats your nervous system like a behavioral problem, interprets sensory pain as “resistance,” or praises you most when you look “normal.” Many AuDHD adults (autistic + ADHD) have learned to mask to survive, and that can come with a real cost. Autism and ADHD also commonly overlap, which can make your needs feel complicate

Last reviewed: 03/02/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If demand avoidance in adults shows up in your life, you may recognize the feeling: a simple request (send an email, make an appointment, start the dishes) can land in your body like a threat. You might even hear yourself thinking, “why do I resist everything?” even when you genuinely want the outcome. In this article, you’ll learn: What “demand avoidance” means and how it relates to PDA-style patterns Why autonomy can fe

Last reviewed: 02/27/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’ve been staring at a questionnaire total and wondering what it actually means, you’re not alone. In midlife, phq 9 scoring can reflect depression, but it can also capture chronic stress, hormone-driven sleep disruption, or neurodivergent burnout that looks a lot like “low mood.” In this article, you’ll learn: What the PHQ-9 measures (and what it doesn’t) A simple PHQ-9 score interpretation (including common cutoffs

Last reviewed: 02/27/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If your ASRS and AQ-10 were both positive, it can be tempting to jump straight to “So is this AuDHD?” An audhd assessment can help you sort out what’s going on, but screeners are only a starting point, not a diagnosis. In this article, you’ll learn: Why ADHD and autism traits can overlap (and feel contradictory) What popular screeners can and can’t tell you What to expect from a combined ADHD/autism evaluation How to choo

Last reviewed: 02/27/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you took the aq10 test  (or searched for an aq 10 test online ) and got a score that surprised you, it can be hard to tell what it means . Many people are trying to understand the same confusing question: autism vs social anxiety . In this article, you’ll learn: Why autism and social anxiety can look similar on the surface How sensory overwhelm can mimic (or fuel) anxiety Signs the pattern may be primarily anxiety vs a

Last reviewed: 02/27/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you just had a positive AQ-10 and you’re searching “adult autism assessment near me,” a big question usually follows: What happens next?  A screening score can point you toward a full evaluation, but it can’t explain your full profile on its own. [1] In this article, you’ll learn: What an adult autism assessment is trying to answer (beyond “yes/no”) Typical steps in an autism evaluation for adults, including interview

Last reviewed: 02/27/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’ve been googling autism in women over 40  and thinking, “Why does this feel so true now?” you’re not alone. Many women reach midlife and suddenly notice more sensory overwhelm, more social exhaustion, and more “I can’t do life anymore” moments, even if they’ve been highly capable for decades. Diagnostic bias and masking (camouflaging) can delay recognition, especially when someone has learned to look “fine” on the

Last reviewed: 02/27/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re a high-masking woman who took the AQ 10 and got a “surprisingly low” score (or a score that feels ambiguous), it can stir up a lot: relief, doubt, grief, validation, or a looping “But what does this actually mean?” The AQ-10 test is a quick autism screener, not a diagnosis. In real life, especially for women who’ve spent decades “passing,” the most important information isn’t just the number. It’s the lifelong p

Last reviewed: 02/26/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re looking up where to get tested for autism  or searching for an adult autism diagnosis near me , you may run into a common worry: “Do I need childhood records to get an adult autism or ADHD diagnosis?” The short answer: childhood history matters , but perfect childhood records are rarely required - especially in adult evaluations. A good clinician can often build a credible picture using interviews, real-life ex

Last reviewed: 02/26/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’ve been wondering about late diagnosed autism in women  in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, you’re not alone. Many high-masking women reach midlife feeling “functional” on paper while privately managing burnout, sensory overload, or relationship stress. A well-done adult evaluation can help you clarify what’s a lifelong neurodevelopmental pattern versus what’s better explained by anxiety, trauma, sleep problems, hormonal

Last reviewed: 02/26/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re looking into an AuDHD assessment , you’re probably not trying to collect labels. You’re trying to make sense of patterns like: “Why is work doable some days and impossible on others?” “Why do social situations drain me?” “Why do I crave novelty and also need predictability?” In this article, you’ll learn: What “AuDHD” means and why ADHD and autism can coexist The overlap clinicians untangle in an ADHD and autism

Last reviewed: 02/23/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’re searching for aq-10 scoring  because you’re trying to make sense of an adult autism screener result, you’re not alone. The AQ-10 is short, fast, and widely used, which also means it can feel oddly “too small” to hold something as big as your lived experience. In this article, you’ll learn: What the AQ-10 is designed to do (and what it can’t do) How to think about “borderline” results without self-gaslighting Why

Last reviewed: 02/23/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly High masking autism in women can get mislabeled as “just anxiety,” especially when someone is bright, capable, and socially skilled on the surface. If you’ve done years of coping strategies, therapy, and self-help but still feel like daily life takes an outsized amount of effort, it may be worth looking at what’s driving the stress, not just how the stress shows up. In this article, you’ll learn: Why anxiety treatment som

Mental health screening tools can help you spot patterns, name what you’re experiencing, and decide on next steps. Here’s how to use screeners wisely.

If you’re searching audhd traits adults and your screener results feel “all over the place,” you’re not alone. When autism and ADHD overlap, traits can pull in opposite directions, and masking, anxiety, or burnout can skew self-tests. This guide explains why contradictions happen, what patterns matter most, and how to use screeners to plan a calm next step.

Autism screening results can raise big questions, especially for people who’ve masked for years. Learn what AQ-10, RAADS-14, and CAT-Q scores can and can’t tell you, plus gentle next steps toward evaluation, accommodations, and support.

Autistic burnout symptoms can look like exhaustion, skill loss, and sensory overload after long-term stress. Learn signs, causes, and supports that actually help.

Last reviewed: 02/19/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you have ever googled autistic masking vs social anxiety  and still felt unsure, you are not alone. In adults, all three patterns can look like the same "polite, put-together" person on the outside, while the inside story is totally different. In this article, you'll learn: Why masking, social anxiety, and people-pleasing get mixed up The "driver underneath" each pattern Practical clues you can use in real life How the

Last reviewed: 02/19/2026 Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly If you’ve searched cat-q autism , you’re probably trying to make sense of something that’s hard to explain: you can “do social,” but it feels effortful, scripted, and exhausting. The CAT-Q (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire) is one tool that helps put words to that experience. In this article, you’ll learn: What autistic masking and camouflaging mean in plain English What the CAT-Q measures (and what it does not)

AQ-10 vs RAADS-14 can feel confusing when you’re trying to make sense of autistic traits as an adult. Here’s what each screener is best for and what to do next.