Who should get tested for
an Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have difficulties
in the two areas below. However, autism is a spectrum of symptoms,
meaning that every child with autism is different.
The number of symptoms and severity may vary.
Social Interaction and Communication
• Avoidance of eye contact
• Difficulties with gestures and facial expressions
• Concerns with peer relations and preference for solitude
• Social/Emotional reciprocity
(e.g., sharing emotions, comforting someone when sad,
invading other's personal space)
• Delay or lack of spoken language
• Repeating words or phrases (echolalia)
• Problems initiating and keeping a conversation
• Stereotyped and/or repetitive use of language
• Lack of make-believe play and/or social imitative play
Restrictive, Repetitive, and Stereotyped
Patterns of Behavior, Interests, and/or Activities
• Restricted interest (e.g., airplanes, TV shows, math, etc.)
• Resistance to minor changes in routines or surroundings
• Stereotyped or repetitive behaviors
(e.g., flapping rocking, spinning, hand postures, etc.)
• Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
• Over sensitive to the environment (unusual and intense reactions
to sounds, smells, tastes, textures, lights, and/or colors)
• Under sensitive (e.g., “in own world”)
Why should your child receive
testing for an Autism Spectrum Disorder?
• The psychological evaluation is the first step in understanding the
symptoms and guiding the right treatment.
• Early identification and intervention are critical for the
improvement of symptoms. The earlier, the better!
• An autism evaluation is required by most insurances to approve
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services, the most effective treatment for autism.
• It also opens the door for other services in the community
(e.g., speech and occupational therapy, social security benefits, school services, etc.)
What to expect from autism testing?
Visit 1. Throughout clinical interview: A licensed psychologist meets
with the child and parent(s) to gather history and current symptoms
while observing the child. At this appointment, the parents
receive questionnaires for home and school.
Visit 2. Test Administration: A licensed psychologist administers
the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2),
the current gold-standard diagnostic evaluation support tool.
Visit 3. Feedback session: At this visit, the family receives a
psychological evaluation report with testing results and recommendations.
During this time, the licensed psychologist explains the report's information,
and the parents get to ask questions.
Please note: For concerns about intellectual functioning, you may need an additional visit.
uring this visit, the licensed psychologist administers a cognitive test (IQ).
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Did you know that we also offer the following services,
within our Behavioral Health division, of Angel Kids Pediatrics?
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