As a result, these diagnoses were all combined into Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research suggested that these labels reflected a common set of symptoms of varying quality or severity rather than distinct conditions. Before 2013, there were several different disorders under the same diagnostic “umbrella” – Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome/Asperger’s, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). In 2013, the criteria used to diagnose autism changed. Technically in today’s clinical practice, there is not much of a difference between these terms. Less targeted assessment may not provide detailed investigation necessary to identify subtler, but still interfering and distressing, symptoms of autism. Professionals without training and experience working with neurodiverse populations may miss mild, subtle, or atypical symptoms. For some children and teens, weaknesses in communication and social skills may only become noticeable as social demands increase, starting in middle school and beyond. Additionally, our psychologists are skilled in identifying children and teens with mild symptoms of ASD, whose deficits may be missed due to compensatory behaviors (i.e., “masking”). Research supports reliable diagnosis as early as 18 months of age we have expertise in identifying very early signs of ASD, leading to earlier treatment and better social-communication outcomes. There is no lab test or medical diagnostic that can identify ASD. We feel confident in our ability to identify ASD symptoms in these populations, enabling proper diagnosis and appropriate subsequent intervention. Additionally, neurodiversity among girls, women, and people of color has frequently been overlooked or misdiagnosed. Because there is significant symptom overlap in ASD and other disorders, this expertise is critical for accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment recommendations. We have expertise in identifying ASD and co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and ADHD. There are a number of benefits of choosing ASD-specific evaluation over other types of testing: ► More cost-effective ► Fewer appointments or hours of testing ► Greater focus on autism-specific symptoms ► Resources and recommendations specific to ASD Our evaluators have extensive experience working with people on the spectrum of all ages and presentations.
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