Autism Evaluation
The UW Autism Center provides autism evaluations for infants, children, and adolescents who are thought to possibly have autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
In addition to psychological diagnoses, the assessments provide recommendations for treatment, intervention, and educational/vocational planning. We will also assess additional behaviors that may impair functioning and current issues that may impact the individual’s well-being.
For more information, please select the desired age range below:
- Infant/Toddler Evaluations (0 – 36 months)
- Child and Adolescent Evaluations (3 – 17 years)
- Adult Evaluations (age 18 and older)
1) Infant/Toddler Evaluations:
As featured in UW Today
The Infant/Toddler Clinic is the result of over a decade of research aimed at improving intervention for very young children with autism and increasing our understanding of development in infants who have an increased chance of having ASD because a sibling has ASD. We are proud to be able to offer these new clinical services to families with questions or concerns about their infants and toddlers. Our team of experienced clinicians understands how to identify very young children who are showing early signs of ASD and can give individualized information about the kinds of intervention that improve developmental outcomes. We welcome families who want to discuss questions when they have a new baby, who have concerns about behaviors they are seeing, or who are seeking feedback about their young child’s development. Although the exact age that a definitive diagnosis of ASD is possible differs for every child, our clinicians can begin the process of monitoring the development of infants considered to have a heightened chance of ASD diagnosis or those with possible early markers as early as 6 months of age.
Here is a link for a 9-minute video tutorial on behavioral signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in toddlers. It includes video clips of specific behaviors indicative of either ASD or typical child development. If you have concerns about your infant/toddler after viewing this tutorial, we encourage you to contact your child’s Primary Care Provider to discuss a referral for our infant-toddler clinic.
What to expect:
- One to four scheduled appointments at the clinic.
- Caregiver interview; review of medical, social, and developmental history; caregiver questionnaires.
- Direct, in-person testing and assessment. Appointments may be modified to suit each individual’s needs.
- Evaluations include a personalized feedback meeting; an individualized, written evaluation summary; comprehensive recommendations and resources.
In situations where a definitive diagnosis is not possible to determine, on-going monitoring and assessment is available.
Follow-up consultation to assist with the implementation of recommendations is also available.
Visit our intake process page to register for services.
- Child and Adolescent Evaluations
Children and adolescents are referred for many reasons, and we seek to provide a comprehensive evaluation that addresses individual concerns and needs.
**For adolescent evaluations, caregivers should be aware that Washington State law gives adolescents ages 13 years and older have the right to consent or decline medical treatment and/or withhold medical information from their parents. Therefore, it is important to discuss the evaluation with your adolescent prior to scheduling an appointment to ensure their consent.
What to expect:
- Four scheduled appointments at the clinic.
- Caregiver interview; review of medical, social, academic, and developmental history; teacher and caregiver questionnaires. Depending on the age of the child/adolescent, they may also be interviewed or asked to complete questionnaires.
- Direct, in-person testing and assessment. Appointments may be modified to suit each individual’s needs.
- Evaluations include a personalized feedback meeting; an individualized, written evaluation summary; comprehensive recommendations and resources.
Follow-up consultation to assist with the implementation of recommendations is also available.
Visit our intake process page to register for services.
- Adult Evaluations:
We are not currently accepting new patients for adult diagnostic services and have discontinued this service for now. We hope to be able to offer adult diagnostic evaluations in the future. Please see our Adult Resources list for a list of providers who are currently offering adult autism evaluations.
Thank you for your understanding.