Autism Testing

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that is characterized by social communication and interaction difficulties in addition to restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. This may include repetitive body movements or use of language, behavioral inflexibility or challenges adjusting to change and transitions, intense interests in certain objects or topics, or sensory processing differences. We think of Autism as a “spectrum” which consists of many different traits or ways in which the brain processes information. Importantly, the spectrum is not linear, and it can be harmful to reduce autistic people to being either “high functioning” or “low functioning.” Autism is much more complex and dynamic, and each autistic person has their own unique strengths and challenges which are important to highlight. Children do not grow out of their autism, as it is a lifelong condition, but the way their autism presents may change over the course of time and based on their contexts and support systems.

Yes, we offer combined evaluations for both Autism and ADHD for children and for adults. These evaluations take a little longer and cost a little more. Please see our Pricing page for more information. 

Neurodiversity is the idea that brain differences are important and necessary for our advancement as a society. While this does not discount the challenges that neurodivergent people face, it does value the differences that set them apart from others. When we approach evaluations from a neurodiversity-affirming framework, we can best understand and support neurodivergent people and empower them to be themselves authentically. 

Many caregivers wonder whether they should tell their child about their upcoming evaluation, and if so, how they should go about doing this. Here are some tips:

· The purpose of an evaluation is to learn about a child’s strengths and areas of difficulty, determine whether any diagnoses are warranted, help others best understand how to support them, and potentially open up access to services. Depending on your child’s age and developmental level, the amount of information you decide to give about the evaluation may vary. Ultimately, this process is about caregivers and children investigating challenges together rather than trying to figure out what is “wrong” with them.

· Instead of using the worst “test” (which may lead to worry about performance) or “game” (which can minimize the importance of the evaluation or confuse them when some aspects of testing are not enjoyable), you may consider using the word “activities.”

· You may decide to ask your child what they are good at and what they struggle with to get a sense of their insight. Using your child’s words when discussing these topics can be extremely helpful to ensure understanding.

Here are some examples of how to explain the evaluation to your child:

You know how _____ is really hard for you? We’re going to meet with someone who is going to help us figure out why that’s so hard for you so we can figure out ways to make that easier. You’ll be doing a lot of different activities with her so she can learn how your brain works!

The other day, you told me that you “zone out” a lot and feel like it’s really tough sitting still. How would you feel about meeting with someone to figure out what’s going on? That way, your teachers and I can make sure you have everything you need to learn the best you can.

This isn’t going to be like a test you take at school, so you don’t have to study for it, and you can’t fail – even if you don’t know the answers to some of the questions. We just want you to try your best!

We provide autism evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults. Our assessment approach is tailored to the individual’s age, developmental history, and current concerns.

An autism evaluation typically includes clinical interviews, standardized assessment tools, behavioral observations, and a review of developmental, academic, and medical history. Multiple data sources are used to ensure accurate and meaningful results.