Deciding to complete an autism evaluation is difficult for many people, and there is still a great deal of confusion about what an autism diagnosis really means. Screening for autism is still a difficult process, leaving many children and adults with autism largely on their own for determining their own autism diagnosis. Hopefully, after reading this article you will gain clarification about whether it would be helpful for you to pursue an autism evaluation.
Characteristics of Those on the Autism Spectrum
No two people on the autism spectrum are alike. However, there are some commonalities among those on the spectrum. They may struggle with having back-and-forth conversations. They may enjoy talking but primarily talk only about their own interests. They may have deficits in social communication like difficulty making eye contact, not using gestures when they communicate, or not having a full range of facial expressions.
As such, autistic people often struggle to develop, maintain, and understand relationships. As children, they typically lack imaginative play and may struggle with changes in routine. Transitions are often difficult for them, and they may have rigid thinking patterns.
Additionally, those on the autism spectrum typically have highly fixated interests. They may want to talk about the same things consistently or consistently spend their time doing the same activities. Many autistic people are sensitive to sensory inputs such as sounds or textures or may seek sensory inputs by touching or smelling objects. Those on the autism spectrum may also engage in repetitive motor movements or repetitive speech.
Completing the Autism Evaluation Process: What It Entails
When completing a comprehensive autism evaluation for children, a thorough parent interview is completed. This is called the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised or ADI-R. If possible, this is completed with adults who are seeking an autism evaluation as well. The ADI-R asks autism evaluation questions about childhood development. Through the questions on the ADI-R the evaluator can determine whether someone’s early development is consistent with an autism diagnosis.
In addition to the ADI-R, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) is another autism evaluation tool administered. This is an interactive assessment that pulls for behaviors those on the autism spectrum have difficulty with. The person then gets scored on their ability to demonstrate skills in accordance with autism evaluation criteria. Additionally, it has different modules meant to be used with everyone from toddlers to adults.
During a thorough autism evaluation, it is also important to test for other challenges. For example, many people who are on the autism spectrum also struggle with attention, focus, organization, and impulsivity. It is important to evaluate these skills, known as executive functions. Executive functions are also what those with ADHD struggle with.
Emotional well-being is a crucial part of the evaluation. Many autistic people also struggle with anxiety and/or other mental health issues. In addition, there are many people who have experienced trauma, which can present somewhat similarly to autism. There are also many people who are autistic and have a trauma history. Thus, it is important to look at this so that helpful interventions can be chosen.
Finally, it is helpful for the person completing the autism evaluation to take an intelligence test. The intelligence test we use at MVP measures a person’s ability to learn new information visually and verbally. It also measures a person’s ability to utilize their working memory and processing speed. It is helpful to understand someone’s learning profile so support systems can be put in place.
Ways an Autism Diagnosis Can Help
Obtaining an autism diagnosis can help facilitate understanding. A thorough autism evaluation will help you understand strengths and needed areas of support. An autism evaluation and autism diagnosis can open the door to being able to receive support at school, through vocational services, as well as possibly getting greater coverage of services through insurance.
Effective Autism Evaluations in Denver
For those in Denver, we can provide autism evaluations near you and offer autism evaluations for adults as well. If you are interested in completing an autism evaluation or have questions about autism evaluation costs, give us a call at 720-583-9332. We are happy to answer any questions you may have! Although there are people who come from out of state to complete an assessment, we conduct autism evaluations in the Denver Metro area, including Englewood, Lone Tree, Parker, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Littleton, Aurora, Lakewood, Greenwood Village, & Centennial.
Dr. Steffanie Stecker a licensed psychologist and the owner and clinical director of Mountain Vista Psychology, PLLC.
In addition, she is a board certified neurotherapist (BCN E5669) and board certified in QEEG (QEEG-D). Less than 100 people world wide are board certified in QEEG, which indicates competency in reading QEEGs and choosing neurofeedback protocols. Dr. Stecker is passionate about brain based effective therapy and creating a safe relationship for her clients to create change. She loves what she gets to do each day!