At Safe Haven Psychology Center, we recognize that Autism and ADHD don't always look like the stereotypes. Especially in women, teens, and adults who have learned to blend in or "mask," these differences can go unnoticed for years.

If you've spent a lifetime feeling different, socially exhausted, overwhelmed by sensory input, or unsure why things seem harder for you than for others, you may be part of a group that's often missed — and misunderstood. Testing can offer validation, answers, and a new path toward self-understanding. 

Common Signs of High-Masking Autism or ADHD

Social Communication:

• • Conversations may feel mentally draining.

  • You might "script" interactions or feel unsure about how to jump into conversations naturally.

Nonverbal Communication:

• • Eye contact, facial expressions, and tone of voice may require conscious effort.

  • You might find yourself performing socially even when it feels exhausting.

Friendships and Relationships:

• • You can have friends and still feel disconnected.

  • Navigating unspoken social rules may feel confusing or overwhelming.

Special Interests and Routines:

• • You may have deeply focused passions or strong preferences for routines and predictability.

  • These interests may bring comfort, joy, and a sense of mastery.

Sensory Differences:

• • You might be highly sensitive to noise, light, textures, or touch—or have an unusually high tolerance for physical discomfort.

  • Sensory overload can contribute to anxiety, shutdowns, or fatigue.

Masking and Burnout:

• • Keeping up appearances can lead to chronic exhaustion, depression, anxiety, and a loss of identity over time.

Why Testing Matters

Psychological testing isn't about fitting you into a box. It's about helping you:

• Understand yourself with more clarity and compassion

• Recognize the full range of your strengths and challenges

• Access resources, accommodations, and supports that match your needs

• Find language to explain your experiences to others—and to yourself

At Safe Haven Psychology Center, our testing is neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, and centered around your lived experience. We specialize in identifying high-masking autism and ADHD that may have been overlooked.

Is Testing Right for You?

Testing may be a helpful next step if you:

• Feel you've always had to work harder than others to "fit in" socially

• Are exhausted from masking or managing sensory overwhelm
  
  

• Wonder if lifelong struggles with focus, routines, or anxiety are more than just "quirks"

• Are seeking a greater sense of self-understanding and validation

If this resonates with you, you’re not alone. Read more on our Blog or contact us now.

Telehealth or in-person interviews:

• We start with an intake interview. This helps me make a plan for testing. After I write up that plan, which will include an estimate of the total cost, I will provide that plan to you in writing. 

• Clinical interview, often involving others, which might include parents, partners, or roommates to gather information about family and developmental history.

Standardized, reliable, and valid tests:

• Tests are selected based on the unique circumstance of each person, including their age, demographics, and presenting issues. There are free tests online which can be a helpful starting point, but not necessarily offer the robust and accurate information as those listed below. If you are interested in taking some screening questionnaires on your own, you can visit https://embrace-autism.com/autism-tests/ for more information. Screening questionnaires do not replace a professional assessment. 

• Tests may include the ADOS-2, DIVA-5, MIGDAS-2, selected items from the ADI-R, SCQ, SRS-2, CARS-2, BRIEF-2 (or BRIEF-2A), NEPSY-2, DKEFS, PAI, and/or MMPI-3, and others necessary to bring clarity to the questions we are seeking to answer together. If you don't know what these are, don't worry. That's my job!

Feedback:

• Once testing is done, we will sit down together and go over the results, focusing on answering your questions.

• Feedback includes specific recommendations and resources for you to help improve your life.

Report: 

• Following the feedback session, you will be provide with a written report that reviews in detail the results. This allows you to take more time to digest what can be a lot of information as well as provide the results to others that might be important, such as your medical provider, school, or supports. 

A clear diagnosis can transform how you understand your experiences and patterns, offering a fresh and compassionate perspective.

A diagnosis can provide:

• A foundation for self-acceptance as you come to terms with who you truly are.

• Answers to long-standing questions about yourself, bringing clarity and resolution.

• Insight into your strengths and how to harness them to grow and thrive.

• Access to supportive resources, including connections with others who share similar experiences.

• A direct path to effective treatment options, tailored to your unique needs. 

• A sense of relief as you begin to understand your emotions and inner world more deeply.

• A roadmap to tackle challenges, guiding you toward meaningful progress and empowerment.

This process isn’t just about identifying a diagnosis—it’s about uncovering a deeper understanding of yourself and creating a life that aligns with who you are.

Despite the many benefits of obtaining a diagnosis, there are challenges that can make the process more complex for both clients and clinicians. These include:

• Masking: Learning to act in ways that align with societal expectations rather than expressing your authentic self, which can make core traits of Autism or ADHD harder to detect.

• Exceptional skills in certain areas: Talents or strengths that may cause others to overlook differences or challenges. You may have found ways to adapt to your struggles and overcome many of them in your own creative ways. That doesn't mean there wasn't a cost. 

• Limitations of online screening tests: While these tools can suggest whether further evaluation is needed, they can be misleading and are not a substitute for a comprehensive assessment by a qualified psychologist.

• The absence of a biological test: There are no blood tests or genetic markers that can definitively identify autism or ADHD, making diagnosis reliant on behavioral and developmental evaluations. There are also no brain scans that can do this, despite what some claim. 

• Co-occurring conditions: Challenges like anxiety, giftedness, OCD, executive functioning deficits, or depression can draw focus, leading clinicians to miss underlying autism or ADHD. Often these conditions co-occur and the question needs to be asked, "Is it both?" versus "Which one is it?"

• Gender bias: Autism and ADHD are more frequently recognized in men and boys, which can result in women, girls, and non-binary persons being underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. These conditions can present differently in women and research is only barely starting to catch up to this. For example, symptoms might be internalized and better hid in women. 

These obstacles underscore the importance of working with experienced professionals who can look beyond surface-level impressions and uncover the full picture of an individual’s experiences.

Many of the tests used are standardized using in-person administration. Tele-assessment methods are considered an adaptation of the standardized administration and, as such, the remote administration will be taken into consideration when reporting and interpreting the results. Testing may require some sessions be in person depending on the person's presenting concerns.

Like with therapy services, we want to be up front about costs so you can make an informed choice. 

Intake Interview:

• The intake interview is $350. After this, your psychologist will provide you with a testing plan and estimate specific to you. 

Total Costs:

• The total cost of testing varies based on each person's circumstance. Testing is a short-term and intensive service meant to get you answers, next steps, and clear direction. 

• For those who have had some previous testing and do not have a complicated history or symptoms, costs can start around $2500. For those with multiple diagnoses to consider and no previous testing, the cost can range from $4500-$7000.

• Insurance companies may provide some reimbursement of costs. Check with your insurance carrier for their out-of-network benefits. 

Understanding the Cost:

Psychological testing may seem expensive, but it’s important to understand what goes into the process. It’s not just about sitting in a room answering questions; it’s a detailed and specialized service that requires significant expertise and resources. Here's why it costs what it does:

1. Comprehensive Evaluation Process:

   • Psychological testing is more than a single session. Evaluations can take 10 to 20+ hours of professional work. It involves multiple stages, including an initial interview, test administration, scoring, interpreting results, providing feedback, and creating a detailed report. These steps ensure an accurate understanding of your strengths and challenges.

2. Specialized Expertise:

   • Licensed psychologists undergo years of training to develop the skills necessary to interpret complex psychological data. They also need to stay updated with the latest research and tools, which often requires ongoing education. Dr. Rachael Berg-Martinez has led testing programs in multiple settings, trained others in testing, and underwent specialized training in the assessment of ADHD and Autism, specifically for high-masking individuals.

3. High-Quality Tools:

   • The tests used are standardized and evidence-based, often requiring expensive licensing fees. These tools are scientifically validated to provide reliable and accurate results. And like any service, there are overhead costs, such as office space, staff support, and administrative expenses, all of which contribute to the overall price.

4. Customized Approach:

   • No two evaluations are the same. The psychologist tailors the process to the individual's needs, ensuring the recommendations are meaningful and actionable.

5. Value of the Results:

   • The insights gained from testing can lead to life-changing interventions, accommodations, and therapies. It's an investment in understanding and improving one’s quality of life.