Autism Evaluations for Children
In-Depth, Developmentally Informed Autism Assessments for Children, Preschool Ages Through 12
What We Do
When a child shows differences in communication, play, behavior, or social interactions, caregivers often have more questions than answers.
Is this autism? Is my child delayed? How do I know what is typical? What should I do next?
A detailed autism evaluation is designed to answer these questions with clarity and precision. At Everyday Parenting Psychology, we provide thorough, developmentally grounded autism assessments that go beyond a diagnosis to offer families a detailed understanding of their child's communication style, social development, play patterns, sensory needs, and emerging skills.
Whether the evaluation confirms an autism diagnosis or points to a different explanation for the behaviors you are seeing, the result is a well-developed picture of your child's functioning and a roadmap of next steps.
We evaluate children from preschool ages through 12, with clinicians and tools specifically selected for each developmental stage.
When to Consider an Autism Evaluation
Not every child showing these signs has autism, but an evaluation can help identify what is contributing to the behaviors you are observing and clarify the supports your child may benefit from.
Families commonly seek an autism evaluation when they notice:
Differences in eye contact or social engagement
Delayed speech or differences in communication development
Limited gestures or facial expressions
Repetitive behaviors or rigid routines
Sensory sensitivities or sensory-seeking behavior
Difficulty with flexibility or transitions
Play that looks different from peers
Challenges engaging with other children
Intense interests or preferences
Emotional regulation challenges
Our Approach
Autism evaluations at Everyday Parenting are designed to give families clear, meaningful insight into their child's developmental profile.
The goal is not simply a diagnosis, but a deeper understanding of your child's communication style, social development, play patterns, sensory processing, and emerging skills.
Because many experiences, including anxiety, ADHD, sensory processing differences, trauma, chronic stress, and attachment disruptions can create behaviors that resemble autism, our evaluations use specialized, evidence-based tools to differentiate between these possibilities with accuracy and care.
Gold Standard ADOS Evaluations
Our clinicians are formally trained in administering the ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), the gold-standard tool for assessing autism across ages and developmental levels. The ADOS uses structured and semi-structured activities to observe communication, social engagement, play, imitation, flexibility, and sensory behaviors in a setting that is comfortable for the child.
Specialized in Young Children
Evaluating infants, toddlers, and preschoolers requires a different clinical skill set than assessing school-age children. Our early childhood clinicians bring extensive training in developmental milestones, early social communication, and the kinds of nuanced interpretation that general providers may miss. For school-age children, our evaluators draw on cognitive, behavioral, and neuropsychological testing tools within an in-depth evaluation to capture the full scope of functioning.
Trauma-Informed & Attachment-Aware
Many presentations that look like autism in young children can be driven by anxiety, sensory processing differences, trauma, or disruptions in early caregiving relationships. Our evaluations account for these overlapping factors, using a trauma-informed lens to ensure that diagnostic conclusions reflect the full picture rather than surface-level observations alone.
Associated Fees
Evaluation fees vary based on the child's age, the provider, and the scope of the assessment. Preschool through age 5 evaluations follow a separate pricing range from school-age evaluations, given the different methods and timelines involved.
For school-age children (ages 6 through 12), pricing depends on the evaluating clinician and the depth of assessment needed. With Dr. Samantha Smith, focused autism evaluations begin at $2,800, and comprehensive evaluations that address autism alongside ADHD or broader developmental questions are $4,800. Evaluations conducted by Dr. Wenderoff are priced within a range determined by the scope he assesses as clinically appropriate for each child rather than mapped to fixed categories.
When a classroom observation is paired with Dr. Wenderoff's testing, Hannah Lavan's observation fee depends on the format selected: a verbal feedback observation is offered at one rate, and an observation that includes a written report is offered at a higher rate.
Specific fees applicable to your family are reviewed during the initial consultation.
What to Expect from an Autism Evaluation
STEP ONE
Consultation
A consultation is the best way to explore whether our approach aligns with your family's needs. This initial 15-minute conversation allows us to understand your concerns, answer questions about the process, and determine whether an evaluation is the right next step.
STEP TWO
Comprehensive Evaluation
The evaluation includes multiple components, selected based on your child's age and developmental level:
Caregiver interview: A collaborative discussion covering your child's development, strengths, concerns, early milestones, routines, sensory preferences, communication, and family history
Child observation: Using the ADOS and other observation tools, we assess communication, social engagement, play, imitation, flexibility, and sensory behaviors. Sessions are designed to be comfortable and developmentally appropriate for the child
Review of records: When available, we incorporate prior evaluations, IEPs, medical information, or school reports to build a complete understanding
Standardized questionnaires: Caregivers (and teachers, when applicable) complete screening tools related to autism traits, emotional and behavioral needs, adaptive functioning, and developmental skills
IQ and cognitive testing: Age-appropriate measures assess your child's thinking and learning skills, helping to identify developmental delays, highlight cognitive strengths and challenges, and provide a more complete picture of overall functioning
STEP THREE
Results & Follow-Up
You receive a concise, in-depth written report covering diagnostic impressions, developmental patterns, strengths, areas of concern, and practical recommendations. The format of the feedback varies by clinician. With most evaluators, results are reviewed in a dedicated feedback meeting where questions are answered, and next steps are mapped out together. With Dr. Wenderoff, feedback is provided within the same session in which testing is completed, allowing for immediate discussion of findings. When a classroom observation is part of the evaluation alongside Dr. Wenderoff's testing, a separate, dedicated feedback session by Dr. Smith is included to integrate observational data with the testing results.
Autism Evaluation FAQs
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We assess children from preschool through age 12, including infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early school-age children.
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Evaluation fees vary based on the child's age, the provider, and the scope of the assessment. Preschool through age 5 evaluations follow a separate pricing range from school-age evaluations, given the different methods and timelines involved.
For school-age children (ages 6 through 12), pricing depends on the evaluating clinician and the depth of assessment needed. With Dr. Samantha Smith, focused autism evaluations begin at $2,800, and comprehensive evaluations that address autism alongside ADHD or broader developmental questions are $4,800. Evaluations conducted by Dr. Wenderoff are priced within a range determined by the scope he assesses as clinically appropriate for each child rather than mapped to fixed categories.
When a classroom observation is paired with Dr. Wenderoff's testing, Hannah Lavan's observation fee depends on the format selected: a verbal feedback observation is offered at one rate, and an observation that includes a written report is offered at a higher rate.
Specific fees applicable to your family are reviewed during the initial consultation.
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Yes. Our clinicians are formally trained in the ADOS, the gold-standard assessment tool for autism evaluation.
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Yes. Caregiver interviews, questionnaires, and the feedback meeting can be completed virtually. The observational portion of the assessment is conducted in person.
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Most evaluations are completed within two to three weeks, depending on scheduling and the specific tools used.
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If the evaluation criteria for autism are met, a diagnosis is provided. If not, the evaluation will still clarify your child's strengths and needs, identify any other contributing factors, and include recommendations for support.
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Yes. Trauma-informed differential diagnosis is a core part of our approach. Anxiety, ADHD, sensory differences, trauma, and attachment disruptions can all produce behaviors that overlap with autism. We use evidence-based tools to distinguish between these possibilities.
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Yes. We can evaluate for both ADHD and autism within the same assessment, incorporating diagnosis-specific tools when indicated. Families who want a broader evaluation addressing multiple concerns can also pursue a detailed developmental and behavioral evaluation.
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Yes. The evaluation report includes specific, actionable recommendations that can be shared with your child's school team to support requests for services, accommodations, or IEP development.
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A second opinion or updated evaluation can be valuable if new concerns have emerged, if you would like more clarity, or if the previous evaluation did not fully address your questions.
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A consultation is the best way to explore whether an evaluation aligns with your family's needs. We are happy to discuss your concerns and help you determine the best path forward.
Ready to Understand Your Child's Development?
Clear Answers & a Path Forward for Your Family