At MVP we perform Autism Testing & Autism Diagnosis for both kids and adults. The first half of this page discusses evaluations for kids. If you are an adult, scroll down to get information on Autism testing for adults!
Autism Evaluations for Kids & Teens
Have you noticed signs of Autism Spectrum in your child?
What are the “signs” anyway?
Is your child a “black and white” thinker?
Are transitions a challenge?
It is so difficult to watch your child struggle. As a parent you can feel helpless and confused. Your child has difficulty making friends. He may have sensory difficulties and have trouble regulating his emotions. Transitions are hard. You may have taken your child to speech and/or occupational therapy, but still feel like “there is something missing”. You love your child and want to support him the best way you can.
Most parents who have children who develop differently feel alone. You see other parents coordinating play dates for their children, but your child has a difficult time making friends. Because of your child’s difficulty with change and managing sensory input, but may have limited some family activities. When talking with other parents, you may feel judged or just not able to relate. Although you feel very alone, 1 in every 59 people is on the Autism Spectrum. If your child is one of those people, figuring out what is actually going on can help access interventions for your child and support for you and your family. Early intervention is extremely important for those on the Autism Spectrum and is essential in helping their long-term functioning.
But you may still be nervous to get your child tested.
It is a big deal. You may wonder what the pros and cons are of having your child diagnosed. People tend to feel differently about letting people know their child has Autism. Most feel like it is helpful for their child’s community to know about the diagnosis so they can be better understood and get more support. Others would like to get testing to better understand their child and know how to support them, but do not want others to know. The beautiful thing about obtaining private testing is that you get to decide how to use the information you receive. Once you have an understanding of whether or not your child is on the Autism Spectrum, we can talk through next steps including who you want to share the information with.
Getting tested takes time and money.
This is true. We wish completing a comprehensive evaluation wasn’t so costly. The truth is Autism Evaluations take a lot of time to do well. Because we want you to get the understanding and answers you came in for, we do not want to take short cuts. At the same time, you will find we are competitively priced because we truly don’t want this to be a barrier. We also take HSA, Flex Spending, and offer payment plans to assist with managing cost.
What we do
At MVP we offer thorough evaluations for Autism Spectrum Diagnoses for toddlers through adulthood. We know this can be a stressful time and our goal is to support you through it. After completing testing, we provide you with a written report and in-person feedback session. We review strengths and areas of needed support with you. You receive recommendations based on testing results so you know you are headed in the right direction. Every effort will be made to be supportive and guide you through the process.
In addition, it is our intention to meet with you within two weeks after all assessment data is collected to review the results. By the time most people decide to complete testing, they are anxious to get results and move forward. We want to help you do just that!
Here is a brief overview of the assessments we use to determine an Autism Diagnosis:
Autism Spectrum Testing:
Autism Spectrum testing will likely include the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Second Edition (ADOS-2) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). In addition, an intelligence test, an adaptive living skills rating scale, and a social, emotional, and behavioral screener may also be given as needed.
Take the next step and call.
If you think your child or teen has Autism, please don’t wait to call 720-583-9332. We are happy to talk with you and offer a free 20-minute phone consultation if you would like one.
Autism Testing for Adults
Do you think you may have Autism?
Throughout your life have you felt different than others and don’t know why?
Is it difficult for you to understand people and how to respond to them?
Is adjusting to changes a challenge?
You may have always felt different than others. You may have felt outside the circle or even confused, especially in groups of people. Sounds or textures may bother you and you feel overstimulated easily. Changes in your routine may cause you significant stress.
You are not alone…
If you are an adult who thinks you may have Autism, you are not alone. Over the last several years understanding of Autism has increased dramatically. Those who are still growing up are often identified and given extra support. Many of those who are adults were “missed” when they were growing up. There just was not enough information out there so you may have just been thought of as “quirky” without an understanding of how your brain works. This may have caused you frustration as those around you may have not understood you or your needs. You may be doing “okay”, but you would like to know if you have Autism Spectrum Disorder.
You can get tested and diagnosed (if warranted) as an adult
Thankfully, you now have the option to get tested for Autism Spectrum Disorder as an adult. At MVP we complete a thorough evaluation with you. The ADOS-2 (the gold-standard test for Autism Spectrum Disorder) is designed to assess skills those on the Autism Spectrum struggle with, whether you are a child or an adult. We include an ADOS-2 in all testing we do for those completing Autism diagnosis testing.
In addition, through the testing process we will measure your intellectual profile so you will understand your ability to think, reason, and problem solve verbally and nonverbally. You will also get an understanding of how your working memory and processing speed may impact your life functioning. We will measure your executive functions such as your ability to sustain your attention, organize yourself, and regulate your impulsivity. We will also look at any other potential mental health challenges you may or may not have such as anxiety or depression. If you are going to complete an evaluation, we want you to leave with as many answers as possible.
An evaluation feels like a big deal
And it is. You may be nervous to do this. A part of you wants to know. A part of you may not want to know. In our experience, people who decide to complete the assessment process feel relief. Imagine if you could finally better understand why you have had the experiences you have through your life? It would probably feel like a relief to finally know and understand what is going on!
An evaluation can also feel like a big deal because of the time and cost involved in testing. Due to the comprehensive evaluation process there is indeed time and cost involved. Again, we believe this is best practice to ensure you get the answers you need. Short cuts can lead to results that may not be as accurate. We don’t want that for you. We want you to have answers.
Contact us
Please don’t wait. Contact us at 720-583-9332. We are happy to answer any questions you have. We are here to help.
Articles that may help:
Autism Evaluation & Autism Diagnosis: What to look for and how it can help
Although people often travel great distances to get Autism Testing & Autism Diagnosis, we primarily serve those in Colorado and the Denver Metro Area including: Castle Rock, Lone Tree, Littleton, Lakewood, Greenwood Village, Parker, Englewood, Centennial, Cherry Hills, Brighton, Thornton, Northglenn, Boulder, & Louisville.