Understanding whether your child has autism or another neurodevelopmental condition can be overwhelming when signs or symptoms present. Deciding on the best way to get an accurate diagnosis is crucial for ensuring your child receives the support they need.

In-person assessments are vital for providing a thorough and accurate picture of your child’s behaviors and developmental milestones. These assessments allow professionals to observe your child in various settings, interact with them directly, and use comprehensive evaluations to assess the severity and nature of their condition, if present. This detailed approach ensures a precise diagnosis if additional screening is required while ruling out other conditions.

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that encompasses a wide range of symptoms related to communication deficits and restricted or repetitive behaviors. Unlike earlier classifications of autism as distinct disorders (such as Asperger’s), ASD is now understood as a spectrum reflecting degrees of symptom severity and the degree to which individuals require support.

Other neurodevelopmental conditions, such as ADHD, often overlap with autism and affect communication and behavior. The assessment process aims to determine if other neurodevelopmental conditions are present. The comprehensive nature of assessments allows psychologists and other clinicians to evaluate the full spectrum of neurodevelopmental conditions and accurately assess and diagnose what is most appropriate for a child.

Screening for developmental disorders is a routine procedure in well baby visits conducted by the child’s primary care provider. Schools will conduct non-medical screenings for neurodevelopmental disorders, as well. Should there be concerns regarding a child’s development, the child may be referred for a more comprehensive evaluation, usually conducted by a team of qualified licensed healthcare professionals. The team usually includes a physician, a psychologist, a nurse practitioner, and a speech and language therapist. Additional professionals may be involved depending on the findings and concerns in the screening process. This may include Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Dietitian, or a geneticist.

The assessment process differs for adults due to the unique ways symptoms present or have been masked over time. Adults display similar core symptoms as children, such as social interaction and communication challenges, but these symptoms can be subtler or expressed differently.

Benefits of In-Person Assessments for Autism

The primary goal of in-person assessments is to provide a detailed and accurate view of an individual’s neurodevelopmental profile. This process helps professionals understand how a person’s mind (and neural pathways) have grown and developed over time, enabling them to tailor support to address specific deviations or challenges. While in-person assessments are not a formal diagnosis, they lay the groundwork for additional testing that ensures an accurate diagnosis and a clear understanding of the necessary support.

This thorough approach offers several significant benefits, including:

• Improved Understanding: Assessments help individuals and their families gain a clearer understanding of symptoms and the support required.
• Ability to Advocate for a Child’s Needs: Assessments help empower parents to effectively advocate for their child’s educational and developmental requirements.
• Opens up Access to Support Services: Assessments facilitate access to specialized support services and resources, depending on the individual’s needs.
• Offers Validation: Assessments can provide a sense of validation for individuals and their families by confirming their experiences and concerns about developmental challenges.
• Helps Rule Out Other Conditions: Assessments determine not only the type and severity of autism but also if other conditions are present or if symptoms result from another condition.

What’s Involved in an In-Person Assessment?

In-person assessments are comprehensive evaluations that capture a detailed picture of an individual’s development and where they face challenges in social communication, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. While questionnaires and tests are often included, they should never form the whole assessment as they do not capture a complete profile and may be influenced by subject biases. Experienced professional teams trained in recognizing autism conduct these evaluations to provide an accurate and nuanced assessment.

The process can be more challenging for adults, as many diagnostic tools are designed for children. To ensure an accurate assessment as an adult, it’s recommended to seek out clinicians who are experienced in recognizing symptoms in adults.

For children, in-person assessments typically include the following:

• Direct Observation: Professionals observe the individual in different settings to see how they interact and behave in natural environments.
• Developmental History: Gathering a detailed history of the individual’s development, particularly milestones and challenges over time.
• Cognitive Testing: Assessments that measure an individual’s thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving abilities.
• Interviews: Conversations with parents, caregivers, and sometimes the individual, to gather comprehensive background information and insights.
• Systematic Observations: Professionals use scientifically validated tools to observe a child’s behavior and responses in a quantifiable and interpretable manner.
• Language and Motor Skills Assessments: Additional evaluations of the individual’s communication abilities (verbal and nonverbal) and physical coordination.
• Questionnaires: Standardized forms filled out by parents, teachers, and sometimes the individual to provide additional information about behavior, skills, and challenges.

The Role of Multidisciplinary Teams in Assessing Autism

Autism assessments involve a multidisciplinary team of professionals, each bringing their unique expertise to provide a comprehensive evaluation. This collaborative approach ensures that all aspects of an individual’s development and behavior are thoroughly examined, leading to a more accurate and holistic understanding. Additionally, this approach enables a faster and more precise diagnosis while facilitating the development of targeted treatment plans following a diagnosis.

The multidisciplinary team usually includes:

• Mental Health Professionals: Psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed counselors
• Specialists: Neurologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists
• General Healthcare Professionals: Primary care physicians, advanced nurse practitioners, pediatricians, social workers

Comparing In-Person and Online Assessments

In-person assessments are considered the gold standard in screening for autism due to their comprehensive nature and the role of multidisciplinary professionals in providing accurate and speedy evaluations. Clinicians can directly observe symptoms in a controlled clinical environment, offering accuracy and reliability that online evaluations may not provide.

While they offer convenience and accessibility, online evaluations lack the depth and immediacy of in-person observations and interviews. Without the ability to see an individual interact in real-time or assess subtle nonverbal cues, online assessments may miss critical aspects of behavior and development. Consequently, while online assessments can serve as a useful preliminary step, they are best complemented by in-person evaluations to ensure a thorough and accurate understanding of the individual’s needs and to develop a tailored support plan.

Get the Support You Need With Start My Wellness

In-person assessments for autism are invaluable for providing a thorough and accurate understanding of an individual’s neurodevelopmental profile, allowing further testing and diagnosis.The purpose of the screening process is to evaluate challenges an individual may be facing and provide appropriate and tailored interventions.

At Start My Wellness, we are ready to help you navigate the complexities of autism assessments. Our experienced psychologists, social workers, licensed counselors, and nurse practitioners provide a comprehensive evaluation process and are dedicated to providing tailored support for individuals facing challenges with autism. We work collaboratively with outside professionals to provide the comprehensive evaluation needed for a diagnosis of ASD.

Contact us today at (248)-514-4955 and meet our therapists to schedule an in-person autism assessment and ensure your child receives the support they need to thrive.

Sources

1. Start My Wellness: Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder
2. Start My Wellness: What Are the Different Types of Autism
3. Start My Wellness: Is Autism Different in Kids vs. Adults?
4. Start My Wellness: Understanding the Autism Diagnosis Process
5. Autism Spectrum News: Assessing Young Children with ASD: A Multidisciplinary Approach
6. Start My Wellness: 10 Warning Signs of a Bad Autism Evaluation