How does Dr. DeSantis & Associates approach testing?

Dr. DeSantis has been helping individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for 25 years. She has treated children, adolescents, and adults with ASD in hospital settings, mental health clinics, grade schools, colleges, community mental health agencies, residential facilities, private practices, and even in their own homes.

Dr. DeSantis & Associates are competent and well-versed in helping individuals who may have ASD get the testing and resources they need to reach their full potential.

ASD in Children

Parents and teachers usually notice that a child with ASD is “different” before the child turns three. ASD may manifest as developmental delays, restricted and repetitive behaviors, difficulty making transitions, avoidance of other children, or communication problems. Testing can help determine whether these symptoms are related to ASD or something else. Our testing approach looks at all aspects of a child or adolescent’s social, emotional, behavioral, personality, and executive functioning, to truly understood the root of the problem. Our comprehensive psychological evaluation and includes testing for autism, ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, sensory issues, and more.

ASD in Adults

Many adults with ASD noticed symptoms early in life but never received testing. As a result, they may have struggled for years without help. The good news is, adults can undergo ASD testing, too. Our comprehensive adult ASD evaluation includes a full psychological evaluation with highly valid and reliable autism assessments, and include personality testing, ADHD testing, and testing for anxiety, mood disorders, sensory issues and much more to help confirm and differentiate between autism and other disorders.

How We Approach Testing for Autism

At Dr. Danielle DeSantis & Associates, we use a battery of gold-standard assessments to reliably and accurately diagnose ASD in children and adults. Our evaluations meet American Psychological Association requirements.

Accuracy is one of our top concerns.

Our tests help rule out (or rule in) other diagnoses that look a lot like autism. This is critical for treatment planning and understanding. Without a comprehensive battery, the risk of misdiagnosis and misunderstanding is high. It’s hard to know for sure if someone has ASD without formal, professional testing. You and your practitioner can use this information to create a personalized plan to better understand yourself and maximize your happiness and well-being.

What About Minorities, Women, and Other Populations?

Unfortunately, there is a shortage in the field of research on culturally diverse populations, high-masking individuals, and women with autism spectrum disorder. For this reason, we use autism-specific assessments backed by long-term research involving larger groups of people, including minorities, women, higher masking individuals, and other underserved populations.

What Happens After ASD Testing?

With proper testing, you can get the answers you need to address your issues and improve your quality of life. If you meet ASD criteria, doors can open for you in the form of 504 plans, individual education plans (IEPs), work accommodations, disability services, and targeted treatment plans.

It’s validating to know you’re not alone and that help is available. However, if you don’t have an accurate diagnosis, it’s difficult to get the things you need, including proper treatment and resources.