Are you presenting with symptoms or traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Have you suspected that you may have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? Have others told you that you may have ASD? Have you noticed it is difficult for you or your child to start or maintain conversations with peers? Have you noticed it is difficult for you or your child to understand jokes, sarcasm, or social cues that others find obvious? Have you found that certain lights, sounds, textures, or even smells seem to impact you or your child, more than others? Do you feel like you or your child are not reaching their full potential? We at Capitol Psychological Assessment are here to help!
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect how we understand and interact with the world around us. It’s like having a unique operating system in your brain. Just like some people are great at playing music or sports, people with ASD have their own strengths and challenges. ASD can affect a few main areas:
1. Communication: People with ASD might find it hard to pick up on social cues, like understanding when someone is joking or feeling sad. They might also have difficulty expressing themselves through words or gestures. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want to communicate – they just have their own way of doing it.
2. Social Interaction: Making friends and understanding social situations can be a bit trickier for people with ASD. They might not always know how to start conversations or join in group activities, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to be part of things.
3. Repetitive Behaviors: You might notice some people with ASD doing things like repeating the same movements or actions. These actions can help them feel comfortable and manage their feelings in a world that can sometimes be overwhelming. They might like routines and sticking to the same schedule because it helps them feel safe and happy. They might do things like rocking back and forth or repeating words and actions, to help themselves feel more comfortable.
4. Sensory Sensitivity: Imagine having super senses – like being able to hear sounds that others can’t, or feeling textures more intensely. People with ASD can have these super-sensitive senses, and it might sometimes make certain sounds, lights, or textures uncomfortable for them.
5. Special Interests: Many people with ASD have deep passions for specific topics. It’s like having a favorite subject that you’re really, really into – but for them, it might be something they’re incredibly knowledgeable about and can talk about for hours. For instance, they might really enjoy specific things like trains, animals, or numbers. The ‘spectrum’ part of ASD means that it’s not the same for everyone. Some people might have more challenges in certain areas, while others might have fewer challenges and more strengths.
Why is ASD testing important and what does it consist of?
An individual may want to get tested for ASD if they are experiencing challenges in areas of communication or social interaction. Psychological testing can help an individual better understand why they are experiencing these challenges and to receive a diagnosis that can help validate and explain their experiences. An accurate ASD diagnosis can also help inform treatment decisions and open doors to a range of services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral interventions, and/or educational accommodations. Lastly, receiving an accurate diagnosis of ASD may help empower the individual to advocate for themselves, help provide the individual’s family with valuable insight, and help individuals connect to a large community of people who share similar experiences.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) testing is a process designed to better understand how you or your child’s brain works and whether certain behaviors and experiences you/your child have might be related to ASD. At Capitol Psychological Assessment, ASD testing involves a series of assessments and conversations with a trained psychologist who specializes in understanding how people think, feel, and interact. The evaluation typically consists of 3-4 sessions and includes the following components:
1. Initial Consultation: The evaluating psychologist will review the testing process with you and gather information about what you hope to gain from the evaluation, as well as questions you may have. Expectations, fees, and potential outcomes will all be addressed in this initial free 15-minute consultation.
2. Initial Conversation/Interview: The evaluating psychologist will meet with you and/or your child and ask questions about you/your child’s history, experiences, challenges, and strengths. As part of this interview, your psychologist will also assess for other conditions- such as ADHD or social anxiety- to help rule out other diagnoses that may look like ASD.
3. Psychological testing: Next, you and/or your child may be asked to fill out questionnaires where you/they talk about feelings, interests, or experiences. You/your child may be asked to participate in interactive testing, which may include doing tasks, puzzles, and games to better understand how you/your child’s brain works and better understand you/your child’s strengths and challenges. Testing may also include assessment of how you/your child communicate, both verbally and non-verbally, and how you/your child respond to different sensory experiences. One common tool used in the assessment of ASD is the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale, Second Edition (ADOS-2) which assesses communication and social interaction. The assessment itself may vary slightly from one individual to the next, depending on a few factors such as speech level and age. Beyond this, other rating scales, tests of learning, attention and memory, and measures of mood/personality may be administered to ensure we arrive at the most accurate diagnosis/diagnoses possible. Testing will be tailored to your/your child’s individual symptoms and needed areas of exploration. Testing will take place over the course of 1-3 sessions.
4. Review of school and academic records: The psychologist may review school and academic records to gather more information about you/your child’s functioning in an academic and school setting.
5. Collateral information: If authorized, the psychologist may gather information from family members, friends, teachers, or other relevant sources to gain a more complete understanding of you/your child’s symptoms and functioning.
6. Feedback session: You and/or your child will participate in a meeting with the evaluating psychologist to discuss the results and findings of the evaluation. During the feedback session, the psychologist will review the psychological test findings and share their observations and interpretations. The psychologist will provide a diagnosis, along with recommendations and school accommodations for you/your child, if deemed appropriate. The feedback session is an important component of the evaluation process because it allows opportunity to gain insight and better understand the reasons behind you/your child’s challenges, strengths, or experiences. You will be provided with a copy of a comprehensive report that details everything discussed in the feedback session, along with a letter of accommodation for your school, should that be deemed appropriate.
Differential Diagnosis
It is important to note that ASD testing is not a single test or procedure, but rather a comprehensive evaluation that may involve several components. Full psychological testing is important, because ASD is a complex condition that can show up in different ways in different people and sometimes, experiences and symptoms of ASD can be confused with other conditions. For example, ASD and ADHD can sometimes present with similar symptoms, which can make it difficult to distinguish between the two conditions. Some common symptoms of both ASD and ADHD include:
Difficulty focusing, staying organized, or following through on tasks
Difficulty managing unexpected change
Sensory sensitivities
Emotional or social challenges