Autism Assessment
Arizona Developmental Psychology
Psychological Assessments & Consulting
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder affecting an individual’s communication, socialization, and behavior. It is believed to have a genetic basis that can also be influenced by environmental factors.
- Difficulty with eye contact: A child or adult might avoid making eye contact or not respond when their name is called.
- Problems with social interaction: May struggle to make friends, preferring to be alone, and have difficulty understanding social rules or how to initiate conversations.
- Difficulty with emotional expression: May not seem to show emotions or understand others’ feelings, and might have trouble expressing their own emotions.
- Challenges with shared attention: May not look back and forth between an object and a person, which is a key early social skill.
- Repetitive movements (stimming): Can include rocking, spinning, hand-flapping, or other repetitive motions.
- Intense or narrow interests: May have a very strong focus on specific topics or objects.
- Rigid routines: Becomes upset by even minor changes to their routines or environment.
- Unusual sensory reactions: Can have strong reactions to sounds, smells, tastes, textures, lights, or other sensory input, either seeking them out or avoiding them.
- Delayed development: Early signs can include delays in language, movement, or cognitive skills.
- Repetitive speech: May repeat words or phrases, a behavior called echolalia.
- Masking: Some autistic people hide or suppress their symptoms to blend in, which can lead to mental health issues.
If you observe several of these indicators in yourself or a child, it’s important to consult a psychologist or healthcare professional. Many signs of autism can appear early in development, with some children showing symptoms by 12 to 18 months of age. Early identification is very important. The earlier the age, the better outcomes and responses to interventions.
Our primary objective is to determine whether or not you or your child is on the autism spectrum. Autism testing does not always guarantee a clear diagnosis, we will do everything we can to answer the questions and concerns you have about your or your child’s development and functioning. Our comprehensive assessment will gather information about an individual’s gifts, abilities, and areas of need that they can improve on. Together, we can come up with a plan to meet the individual’s needs and your preferences as a family.
We do our best to minimize transitions, prepare for transitions ahead of time, use communication tools preferred by the child, and give breaks when needed.