AUTISM EVALUATIONS
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism spectrum disorder (or Autism) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts the brain as it develops. Children as young as 3 months old can display signs of Autism. Those can include little to no eye contact, a lack of emotional responses, and little to no babbling.
There are 2 main features of Autism:
Communication
Your child communicates differently than those around them. They may be non-verbal, repetitive, or use noises.
Behavior
Your child may have narrow or specific interests, make repetitive motions (tapping, rocking), experience difficulty with changes in routines, or exhibit intense sensory sensitivities.
Autism can look very different from one child to another. For example, a child with profound autism may not be able to attend school and could require support for all functional living activities. If self-harm behaviors are present, they may need a higher level of care than a family can manage.
On the other end of the spectrum, children may be functioning well at school and home and only require minor accommodations to ensure their development remains on pace with their peers. Autistic individuals that are in the moderate range may require higher support needs in school, one on one behavioral therapy, and they may need support going into adulthood.
What Causes Autism?
Autism is a complex disorder that is heavily influenced by your genetic makeup. Autism is highly (over 80% of cases) heritable. Family history is important to review with your doctor or psychologist during testing.
Other factors that contribute to an autism diagnosis include:
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Neurobiology
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Maternal health
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Early exposure to certain environmental factors (ex: pollution, toxins in water)
What to Expect During Testing
Our neuropsychologist Dr. Joh has extensive experience in assessing Autism and other developmental disorders. Once your child is ready for testing, we'll sort through the behavioral deficits and developmental concerns that they are experiencing. It's important to highlight that we'll take time to learn about the strengths and resilience they demonstrated as well.
Autism testing is always scheduled as an in-person evaluation and generally includes:
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An in-depth interview to gather family history, current behavioral concerns, developmental delays, current sleep schedule, general temperament and mood, as well as family dynamics.
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A review of your child's relevant mental health, medical, and academic records.
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A part of the testing includes the use of play therapy. This is a type of therapy used to interact with your child on their level and observe behavior and communication.
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Additional screening tools or checklists that offer insight from parents or teachers.
What Happens After an Evaluation?
A feedback session is our opportunity to review the report, discuss deficits that require support, and highlight areas of strength and ability. At NeuropsyBrooklyn, we view the feedback session as an opportunity to empower, educate, and guide families towards support services that will lead your child towards academic and social success.
It is only through an assessment with a qualified professional that a child can receive a diagnosis for ASD. Often treatment options and support resources are reserved only for those with a diagnosis, therefore it's vital to have it documented in their medical records.
Is an Evaluation Necessary?
Scheduling an ADHD Evaluation
Our Autism evaluations are always collaborative, compassionate, and comprehensive. Scheduling an evaluation at NeuropsyBrooklyn with our Board Certified licensed neuropsychologist is easy! Contact us today for a free consultation. To contact us by phone please call: +1 (347) 570-3970.