Benefits
Learn how you relate socially, understand your own unique strengths and challenges, and connect with resources to live the life you want!
What’s included
Assessment of cognitive ability, social/emotional functioning, and social and daily living skills
Cost
$1500 - $3500
Autism Evaluations
Does your child have trouble socializing, forming relationships, or playing with other children? Have you or your child struggled adjusting to changes in routine?
Are you sensitive to loud noises, textures, touch, or other sensory areas? Has your child engaged in repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping, rocking, or making odd noises?
If you or your child are struggling in any of these areas, an evaluation for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may be necessary.
What is Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the way a person experiences and interacts with the world. It is marked by two kinds of behavior:
- Challenges in communication and social skills including forming and maintaining relationships, nonverbal communication like eye contact and tone of voice, and the social “back and forth” of conversation.
- Restricted Interests and Repetitive behaviors, which includes repetitive movements, highly specific interests, trouble with changes in routine or cognitive/behavioral rigidity, and sensory sensitivities.
ASD can affect individuals in different ways and can range from very mild (“high functioning” - previously called Asperger’s Syndrome) to severe.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 44 children have been identified with ASD. While those assigned male at birth (boys and men) are 4x more likely to be diagnosed with ASD than girls, 1 in 116 girls identified with ASD. Those assigned female at birth (AFAB) (girls and women) are often overlooked, misdiagnosed, or diagnosed later in life, as their symptoms are frequently misinterpreted, masked, or compensated for, or they exhibit less (obvious) restrictive interests and repetitive behaviors than boys. Also, minority groups tend to be diagnosed later and less often.
Common signs and symptoms of ASD include:
- Delayed or lack of speech development
- Trouble making eye contact
- Problems starting and/or holding conversations
- Trouble making and/or keeping friends
- “All or nothing” or “black and white” thinking
- Very narrow and limited interests that are hard for them to transition away from
- Preference for routines
- Preferring to be or play alone
Complex signs and symptoms that can also denote ASD are:
- Trouble understanding others’ perspectives
- Social anxiety or finding social interaction tiring or stressful
- Feeling “weird” or out of place
- “Revolving door” friendships
- Having anxiety from making eye contact even though they are able to
- Difficulty identifying and expressing emotions
How Do We Diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Testing for ASD can provide much needed clarification on observed behaviors and equip you with strategies and resources to understand and overcome challenges for you or your child. Evaluations can also help connect you with resources, accommodations, and special services that will provide intervention and sustainable results.
Our ASD evaluations include:
- Comprehensive intelligence testing
- Brief achievement testing
- Assessment of adaptive/daily living skills
- Assessment of social/emotional functioning with specific ASD measures including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - 2nd Edition (ADOS-2) and the Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition (MIGDAS-2)
- Emotional and behavioral rating scales
- Written Report including diagnosis, recommendations, and supplemental materials
Through this evaluation, we can help you determine types of service modalities that could benefit you or your child such as behavior analysis, speech therapy, and occupational therapy, and outline steps to treatment that support overall success.
How Much Does it Cost?
For 3 year olds - $1500
For 4 year olds - $2000
For 5 year olds - $2500
For ages 6-17 & adults - $3000
For combo evaluations (i.e., ADHD & Autism; ADHD & Learning Disability; Autism & Learning Disability) - $3500
$1500 is due at the time you schedule and any remaining balance is due 24 hours prior to the feedback (final) session. We accept all major credit/debit cards, HSA cards, and personal checks as payment.
We are not in network with any insurance companies or paneled with Medicaid, Medicare, or Medicaid Managed Care companies (i.e., Caresource, Amerigroup, Peachstate, etc). However, we do offer out-of-network documentation for insurance reimbursement submission.
Please note: You are allowed to change your appointment date and time if necessary. However, in the event of total cancellation, we will not issue a refund. As such, please be sure you wish to utilize our services prior to scheduling the initial intake appointment and paying the initial fee.
What You Gain from Our Evaluations
Once your evaluation is completed, you receive a final report outlining your results, which includes recommendations for additional services like therapy/counseling, medication management, academic accommodations, and more.
You also leave with supplemental materials including a list of referrals to therapists, psychiatrists, other service providers, and community resources like tutoring programs and parent support along with a school or work accommodation letter and monthly follow-ups.
