Autism Assessment (ASD)
Ages 2.5 to 55
Intake, 1 or 2 testing sessions, Feedback, and Report with diagnosis and recommendations
Autism Assessments provide tangible evidence of if a person has autism. These assessments are offered at Oceanside Evaluations and will look at executive functioning and other areas to gain the best understanding of how you are unique. You can learn more about neuropsychological evaluations on this page or by contacting the Oceanside Evaluations team.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network estimates that 1 in 36 children will be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. There are many misconceptions about autism spectrum disorder, but as researchers gain a greater understanding of neurodivergence, it becomes clear that this condition is as unique as the individuals who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder each year. On this page, you can learn more about autism spectrum disorder assessment from the skilled team of psychologists at Oceanside Evaluations.
What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism spectrum disorder, often shortened to ASD, is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts executive functioning throughout childhood development and into adulthood. While common challenges associated with ASD include difficulty with social interaction, hyper-fixation, and dependence on routine, each person has a variety of differences in neurodevelopment related to ASD. That’s why it’s considered a spectrum disorder.
Who Should Consider ASD Assessment?
Our psychologists are happy to offer assessments for children as young as two and a half, and we also provide evaluations for children, teens, and adults up to the age of 55. Younger people typically seek ASD assessment when referred by a pediatrician. There are numerous screening tools utilized by pediatricians who refer young children for diagnosis. For teens and adults, the ongoing effects of untreated ASD often prompt them to seek out assessment.
Some of the common signs of ASD in teens and adults include:
Difficulty interpreting common emotions in others
Struggling to make or sustain friendships or other relationships
Worrying about social situations
Having a hard time communicating
Reacting extremely negatively to changes in routine
Failing to understand social cues
Being unable to make contact
Fixating on certain interests
Planning meticulously
What Happens During ASD Evaluation?
An ASD assessment conducted by one of the skilled psychologists at Oceanside Evaluations has four main components:
Intake session – during this appointment, the psychologist will capture background information about the client’s functioning and abilities at home, school, work, or in their social lives. This includes a health history. It may also include questionnaires and rating scales completed by the client, their family members, teachers, and others who interact with them regularly.
Assessment sessions – typically, there are one to three testing sessions. The number of sessions will be determined by the ability of a person to concentrate and complete tasks during a prolonged visit as well as the age of the person being assessed. While ASD assessment is designed to specifically confirm an ASD diagnosis, a full battery of assessments will be conducted to create a complete picture of the person’s skills, abilities, and potential areas of struggle.
Feedback appointment – following assessment, the psychologist will carefully review their findings with you, answer your questions, and ensure you understand any diagnoses or support recommendations.
Report & recommendations – finally, the psychologist provides a thorough report of their findings with recommendations for ongoing support. This report can be provided to other medical professionals to assist in coordinating treatment and resources.
How Do I Get Started?
The Oceanside Evaluations team is here for you whenever you’re ready to learn more about ASD assessment. We know it can be a big step to schedule an evaluation for yourself or a loved one, so we do our utmost to simplify the process. You can get in touch with us by emailing office@oceansideevals.com or calling 757-771-0269. We look forward to hearing from you.
