What Happens During the Evaluation? A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
The big day is approaching, and you might be wondering what actually happens during an autism evaluation. Understanding the process can help both you and your child feel more prepared and less anxious.
Before the appointment: You'll likely receive paperwork to complete before your visit. This includes detailed questionnaires about your child's development, behavior, and medical history. Take your time with these because they're crucial for the evaluation. You might also receive rating scales to complete, and possibly some for your child's teachers to fill out.
What to bring:
Completed paperwork and questionnaires
Any previous evaluations or medical records
Report cards and school documentation
A list of current medications
Your child's comfort items (favorite toy, snacks, etc.)
Questions you want to ask
Lane Diagnostics makes this process easier for Florida families by conducting comprehensive online autism evaluations. Our virtual assessments allow children to remain in their comfortable home environment while still receiving thorough professional evaluation from our licensed child psychologists specializing in autism spectrum disorders.
The evaluation typically includes several components:
Developmental history interview: The evaluator will spend significant time talking with you about your child's development from birth to present. They'll ask about early milestones, communication development, social behaviors, and any concerns you've had. Be honest and specific. This isn't about being a "good" or "bad" parent, it's about understanding your child.
Direct observation and interaction: The evaluator will spend time interacting with your child through play, conversation, and structured activities. They're looking at communication patterns, social interaction, repetitive behaviors, and responses to different situations. Your child might play with toys, look at books, or engage in pretend play scenarios.
Standardized assessment tools: Professionals often use specific diagnostic tools like the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) or ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised) or CARS (Child Autism Rating Scale). These are research-based tools that help ensure consistent, reliable evaluations. At Lane Diagnostics, we love using the CARS, as it gives us a great structure for understanding how you child interacts with the world.
Cognitive and developmental testing: Depending on your child's age and needs, they might complete puzzles, answer questions, or engage in problem-solving activities. This helps assess intellectual abilities and identify any learning differences.
The evaluation environment: Most evaluations take place in a clinical setting, but evaluators try to make the space child-friendly. Some children do beautifully in this setting, while others might feel overwhelmed or behave differently than they do at home. Let the evaluator know if your child seems unusually stressed or if their behavior is very different from typical. Certain evaluations can also be done online. The advantage of online evaluations is that they allow the child to be in their natural setting. At Lane Diagnostics, we do almost all our evaluations online because we find that children’s behavior is more natural in their home environment.
How long does it take? Comprehensive evaluations can take anywhere from 1-4 hours, and even longer if there is a cognitive testing section as well. Younger children often need shorter sessions with breaks.
Lane Diagnostics' online autism evaluations typically take 2-3 hours and can be scheduled flexibly to accommodate your child's needs. Our Florida-based psychology practice has found that virtual assessments often yield more accurate results since children display more natural behaviors in their familiar home setting.
What if my child doesn't cooperate? Don't worry, experienced evaluators are skilled at working with children who are anxious, shy, or resistant. They can often gather valuable information even if your child doesn't participate in every activity. Your observations and reports are just as important as the direct assessment. At Lane Diagnostics, we frequently evaluate children who don’t want to interact with the examiner. We are trained in guiding you through the evaluation even if your child can’t or won’t engage.
Questions to ask during the evaluation:
What specific behaviors or patterns are you observing?
How does my child's presentation compare to other children their age?
What strengths do you notice?
When can we expect results?
Remember, the evaluator is trying to understand how your child experiences and interacts with the world. There are no "right" or "wrong" responses. The goal is to get an accurate picture of your child's unique profile.
If you're ready to schedule an autism evaluation, Lane Diagnostics provides expert online autism assessments for children throughout Florida. Our experienced team of child psychologists specializes in virtual autism evaluations, offering comprehensive testing with the convenience of telehealth services. Contact Lane Diagnostics today to begin the evaluation process for your child.
