AUTISM EVALUATION

AUTISM EVALUATION

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF AN AUTISM EVALUATION?

An autism psychological evaluation is a specific battery of tests designed to help with the evaluation and treatment planning for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The goal of this evaluation is to focus on patterns of behavior, language and communication, and social interactions to provide recommendations for helping an individual fully interact with their environment.

WHEN IS AN AUTISM EVALUATION APPROPRIATE?

While individual’s of any age may request or be referred for an autism psychological evaluation, this assessment is frequently requested as part of Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) services. This evaluation is used to assess an individual’s functioning across multiple life domains including:

  • Physical
  • Cognitive
  • Communication
  • Social Emotional
  • Self Help

Additionally, this assessment may be beneficial to help rule-out autism spectrum disorder or differentiate between ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders such as specific learning disorders, communication disorders, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING AN AUTISM EVALUATION:

Please expect an autism psychological evaluation to last between 2-4 hours depending on the participant’s age and functioning. We recommend completing this assessment in a single session, although breaks for lunch and rest are allowed. This evaluation must be completed in-person. Telehealth or virtual assessments are not available for autism evaluations. There are many different tests used throughout this evaluation so it is important to bring your glasses and/or any hearing aids as required.

A typical autism evaluation report takes around 8 weeks to complete, but this may vary depending on a number of factors including complexity, cooperation, and breadth of records. Once the report is completed, it will be provided to the referring source and may or may not be shared with the examinee directly. However, you will be given the opportunity to schedule a 30-minute feedback session to discuss pertinent findings and answer any questions.

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