At Majestic Minds Autism and Mental Health Services Autism is tested and diagnosed using professional assessment tools and by evaluating a combination of certain behaviors. These behaviors can include delays in how your child communicates and developmental disabilities.

What to expect from an autism assessment?

Before the assessment

You should expect your doctor to ask a few questions about your child’s development and behavior. Your doctor may ask:

• how often your child behaves a certain way
• when you first noticed symptoms
• when your child reaches certain developmental milestones
• your family’s medical history
• why you decided to seek help
• During the assessment

During your child’s diagnostic assessment, the professional will:

• gather information from you about your child, including your child’s medical history
• observe your child
• review documents, reports, and previous assessments, including information from a school or childcare provider
• use standardized professional assessment tools and criteria to determine a diagnosis, including the diagnostic criteria outlined in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5)

After the assessment

Your child’s written diagnosis must include the following information:

• your child’s full name and date of birth
• the date of your child’s assessment
• a statement indicating that the child meets the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder
• the qualified professional’s name and credentials