05/20/2025
Autism Evaluations- A Public Service announcement.
Evaluating a child for autism spectrum disorder involves more than a standardized assessment such as the ADOS.
The ADOS, STAT, CARS, SRS are all tools that can be used as PART of an evaluation for autism but should not be used alone to give a diagnosis of Autism.
A thorough evaluation should include a DSM interview for signs and symptoms of autism, direct observation of the child, review of assessments and observations from therapists such as Speech, OT and from daycare providers and teachers involved in the child’s day to day life.
A thorough evaluation includes a careful medical, social, family and developmental history of your child.
A thorough evaluation considers what ELSE could be causing the symptoms for this particular child- sleep, diet, seizures, developmental delay, genetic disorders, speech and language disorders, anxiety and ADHD
A thorough evaluation considers and addresses associated problems such as sleep, constipation, learning disabilities and intellectual disability.
Finally, a thorough evaluation includes a plan for interventions and support both for the family and the child.
Yes, the waits for a thorough, evidence based diagnosis can be long but shortcuts do you and your child a disservice.
When considering who to evaluate your child for Autism, ask what the evaluation entails and make sure you are getting everything your child deserves out of it.
