Autism testing involves a comprehensive assessment to determine if you meet the criteria for an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Whether you do or don’t meet the full diagnostic criteria, ASD assessment psychological report we can provide will include suggestions to help you manage any symptoms related to the diagnosis, along with advice that will help at school, home, and work. We provide ASD testing for children and adults. We can also do these assessments as part of pre-k testing.
Autism Testing Steps
We take the following steps when conducting autism testing, which encompasses psychological testing for autism and more, to ensure we have a comprehensive set of information to base our conclusions and suggestions on.
Developmental and Medical History 
The ASD testing process often begins with a detailed interview with you or parents/caregivers (if you are referring a child) to gather information about developmental milestones, medical history, and family history. This helps in understanding the context and potential factors related to the query for the possible diagnosis.
Observational Autism Testing
During the interview, we will observe your behavior, communication skills, and social interactions to see how they might match the diagnoses. To limit the subjectivity of our conclusions, we use standardized tools like the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) to assess these areas. If you are an adult with your permission, we will gather input from parents, caregivers, or teachers when possible. This is crucial because they can provide valuable information about the individual’s behavior in different settings and situations.
Standardized Questionnaires for Autism Testing
We use various questionnaires and checklists to gather additional information and assess specific autism-related behaviors. In most cases, we have you fill out the questionnaire if you are a teenager or adult, but sometimes, we will ask that you get input from significant others. If you are still in school, we may request a teacher to fill one out.
Psychological and Cognitive ASD Testing
Assessments of Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and adaptive functioning may be conducted to understand your strengths and weaknesses. This can help tailor interventions and support, and the results can also be compared to the usual results for those who do or don’t have the diagnosis.
Autism Testing Interpretation
Once the above steps are completed, we compare the gathered information to the diagnostic criteria for autism outlined in the DSM-5 list (DSM-5). To receive an ASD diagnosis, you must meet specific criteria, but even if you don’t meet the full criteria, we can still suggest ways to overcome barriers and tap into strengths,
Part of the interpretation involves considering other conditions with similar symptoms, such as intellectual disabilities, language disorders, or anxiety, to rule them out or provide a differential diagnosis if necessary.
What is Mild Autism?
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social interaction, communication, and behavior. It is called a “spectrum type” disorder because it can manifest differently in each individual, ranging from mild to severe symptoms and various characteristics. This is why our autism testing can be so valuable – it can elucidate your unique challenges so that you address them and make work, school, and social decisions that your symptoms may inform. Some standard features of mild autism include:
- Social Challenges: People with a mild diagnosis often struggle with social interactions, such as understanding and responding to social cues and being comfortable engaging in typical back-and-forth conversations.
- Communication Difficulties: Many individuals with autism may have nonverbal communication challenges, which can make them uncomfortable with their posture and expressing emotional responses in conversation.
- Lower number of interests: People with mild autism may like strict routines and focus on specific topics, interests, or activities.
- Sensory Sensitivities: Individuals with autism often experience heightened or diminished sensitivity to sensory stimuli, such as light, sound, touch, taste, or smell. These sensitivities can lead to sensory overload or avoidance of certain sensory experiences.
- Unique Strengths: Some people with autism have unique talents and abilities, such as exceptional memory or a strong aptitude for specific subjects like mathematics, music, or art.
There may be other symptoms associated with mild autism, and the report aims to show you how your symptoms are not barriers but differences that can be overcome. Many people with a mild diagnosis report that understanding their symptoms was the key to feeling more confident and content.
Feedback and Discussion
Following the autism assessment, we will discuss the findings with you and any other significant people you would like to bring with you. During the feedback, we will provide information on the diagnosis, your unique and specific symptoms, and potential treatment options. Here are some aspects of the feedback you should expect from our autism testing services:
Explanations and conclusions
After the assessment, we start by explaining each test we gave, why we gave it, and what each one revealed. We will explain the strengths and weaknesses identified and discuss whether you meet the criteria for an ASD diagnosis. This feedback will be clear, understandable, and sensitive. You will be given plenty of time to ask questions and get clarification. We won’t move on until you are satisfied that you understand all of the conclusions we arrived at.
What the Diagnosis Does (and Doesn’t) Mean
If the ASD assessment indicates that you do have autism, we will provide an official diagnosis and explain exactly what your type and level of autism means. In some cases, other diagnoses are arrived at in place of or in addition to autism, and we will explain that as well. In all cases, we present a realistic view of the diagnosis in your social, work, and academic life, with a well-rounded perspective covering opportunities and challenges.
Autism Testing Recommendations
Our feedback often includes recommendations for interventions, therapies, and educational strategies tailored to your specific strengths and needs. These recommendations can help you and your family better understand how to support and manage the challenges and opportunities associated with autism. They may also include possible accommodations and supports that would be helpful in school or at work.
Ongoing Communication After an ASD Assessment
Our feedback and support don’t end with the initial ASD assessment. We maintain open communication with you as your needs, questions, and circumstances may change. We can also provide follow-up testing that can help if interventions and accommodations are supported.
Jump-Starting Self-Advocacy
As individuals with autism gain insight into their strengths and challenges, they may become more self-aware and able to advocate for their needs. After Autism Spectrum Disorder, we can help individuals develop self-advocacy skills and learn how to use them best.
Our feedback and support provided during the autism testing process varies based on the specifics of what you are looking for from the testing. It also differs depending on the age of the individual being assessed and the assessment tools used.
ASD Testing Examples
Here are two examples of how we might conduct ASD testing:
Child ASD Assessment
ASD Testing Step 1: Initial Screening
A 3-year-old child, Emily, is not speaking as much as other children her age and shows limited interest in playing with others. When they initially called, we asked her parents to complete the M-CHAT, which indicates a high likelihood of an ASD.
ASD Testing Step 2: Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation
We start with an ADOS assessment, in which we have Emily play with toys, interact with her surroundings, and decide whether to involve others. She enjoys the play but shows repetitive behaviors and limited eye contact. We engage the parents in a detailed developmental history, noting delays in speech and difficulty with social interactions. We then do a WPPSI Test and other cognitive testing, which reveals strengths in nonverbal problem-solving but significant challenges in verbal communication.
ASD Testing Step 3: Results and Report
Based on the comprehensive evaluation, we diagnose Emily with autism spectrum disorder, and the comprehensive report provides recommendations for early intervention services, steps the parents can take at home to increase her level of communication and comfort with other people, and ideas for helping her cope with stress and anxiety.
Adult ASD Assessment
ASD Assessment Step 1: Initial Screening
John, a 28-year-old software engineer, has always felt different from his peers. He struggles with social interactions and changes in routine. When he first calls, he completes the AQ we give him and scores high, indicating the need for further evaluation.
ASD Assessment Step 2: Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation
We conduct a detailed interview about his childhood and current challenges. We then used the ADOS to observe John’s social and communication skills. Finally, we chose specific standardized tests to evaluate John’s cognitive abilities and emotional functioning, looking for patterns consistent with autism. The result is a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
ASD Assessment Step 3: Results and Report
We use the report to suggest specific work accommodations, support services, therapy, and an ASD support group to help with social skills and anxiety management. We also discuss self-help strategies he can use to help family and friends understand him better and strengthen his coping strategies.
These two examples provide an overview of the process and tools used in autism testing for children and adults. The exact tests and procedures we choose will vary based on your individual circumstances.
Autism Testing Conclusions and Our Work
It’s important to remember that autism is a spectrum, and individuals with ASD can have many strengths. Te can help tailor support, educational or work accommodations, and intervention strategies to help you manifest those strengths. If you suspect you or your child has autism, our testing services are available to clarify things and provide suggestions and ideas to help you find contentment in social, work, and school situations. WE also offer specific autism spectrum testing for adolescents. Our ASD testing is positive and solution-focused.
We provide psychological testing for autism in adults and children, including specific testing for high-functioning autism.
Contact us anytime to discuss autism testing and how it might help.
