Autism Evaluation Services

Autism Evaluation

Autism spectrum disorder is also called Autism or ASD. Autism affects how a child behaves, communicates and interacts with others. Children come to us for answers when a family or doctor thinks a child might have autism. We look at many areas of children’s development, like how they are talking, playing, and showing their feelings. Our goal is to answer the big question, “Does my child have autism?” Whether or not the child has autism, we help families better understand their child’s strengths and areas that may need more support. We work with families to make a plan for how to get the help their child needs. This might look like therapies (e.g., applied behavior analysis [ABA]), medical follow up, school recommendations, and community resources.

Evaluation Process

Autism evaluations in our clinic are done by a doctorate-level pediatric psychologist who is trained in development and behavior of children. The evaluation usually takes 3 appointments:

1. Intake: At this appointment, the psychologist collects background information about your child, interviews the family, and observes your child’s behavior. This allows the psychologist to understand your concerns and goals. We will discuss any specific needs or accommodations that help your child be at their best on testing day. You will be sent home with forms for you and your child’s teachers to fill out. Please complete these forms and bring them to your next appointment.

2. Testing: The testing appointment takes 2-4 hours depending on your child’s age and skill level. The psychologist administers specialized tests that assess your child’s thinking, communication, coordination, behavioral and social skills. Some of the testing may be done with parents/caregivers in the testing room with the child and psychologist. Other tests may be done with just the psychologist and your child. Parents should plan to be at the clinic for the full appointment time. We know young children can be unpredictable and 2-4 hours is a long time! Most of our tests look a lot like play and we create a patient and creative environment for your child to show us what they can do. Sometimes, we break testing into 2 sessions to make sure that we are capturing the child’s best effort/abilities!

3. Feedback: In our last appointment the results of the evaluation are discussed. The psychologist will share what we learned from the testing and discuss what that means for your child. We will talk about what diagnoses best fits your child and, more importantly, the next steps for your family. We all come into these evaluations having the same goal: How can we best help your child continue to grow and thrive in all that they do! This is a great time for the parent/caregiver to ask any questions that they may have. Parents/caregivers will also be provided with a paper copy of the report at the feedback.

* The Intake and feedback appointments can be conducted virtually.

How Can I Get Ready for the Appointments?

We want your child to be at their best for testing. It is important that families follow these steps so that their child is ready: Have your child eat a good meal/breakfast prior to the appointment Ensure your child gets as much sleep as possible the night before Wear glasses / contacts and or hearing aids (if needed) Take daily medications, as prescribed, the night before/morning of the assessment (if needed) - unless told to do otherwise by your prescribing provider Bring any snacks/lunch/beverages that your child might want

Does My Child Qualify for an Autism Evaluation at ANPPS?

The following criteria are required: Age: 16 months of age to 18 years of age Commercial or Private Insurance Plans (state-funded healthcare plans, such as Medicaid, are required by the state to have ASD evaluation and treatment services be conducted through their county community mental health provider- contact information can be provided)

Important Insurance Considerations

Parents/caregivers are encouraged to contact their insurance provider to request more information about their specific autism benefits as every carrier has their own requirements.

Our clinic is NOT an approved autism evaluation center (AAEC). We provide independent evaluations. Some insurance providers require that autism evaluations be completed at an AAEC. In some cases, insurance may accept independent ASD evaluations, but require a form be completed by the evaluator for ABA authorization. Please contact your insurance provider to learn whether your child will qualify for ABA services with an “independent autism evaluation”.

If you have any questions or would like to start the process of care for your child and family, please contact us at (810) 262-2300 and we will help you determine the next best steps.