Autism Assessment & Diagnosis
Our autism assessments provide a thorough and individualized understanding of your child's development, using advanced tools and evidence-based methods to deliver accurate diagnoses. We empower families with the knowledge and support needed to guide their child’s growth and progress.
Comprehensive and Compassionate Autism Evaluations
Understanding your child’s unique developmental needs is our priority. At The Goldman Center of Chicago, we provide thorough, individualized autism assessments designed to give you clear insights into your child’s development. Our experienced team uses the latest tools and evidence-based practices to deliver accurate and timely diagnoses, empowering your family with the knowledge and support necessary to guide your child’s growth.
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Autism Assessment Tools & Methods
To provide a complete picture of your child’s development, we use a range of specialized tools and methods. These include:
- ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition): Widely regarded as the gold standard for autism assessments, ADOS-2 provides the most accurate and comprehensive evaluation for diagnosing autism spectrum disorders.
- Parent Interviews: In-depth conversations to gather valuable insights about your child’s behaviors and development.
- Developmental History Review: A comprehensive look at your child’s developmental milestones and history.
- DAYC-2 (Developmental Assessment of Young Children, Second Edition): For a more focused autism assessment, we utilize the cognitive component of the DAYC-2. This helps us gain deeper insights into your child’s cognitive abilities, offering further clarity in identifying potential signs of autism spectrum disorder.
- Rating Scales: We use standardized rating scales like the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) to gather input from parents, teachers, and others who know your child. This multi-informant approach offers a fuller picture of your child’s behaviors across different settings, supporting an accurate diagnosis.
Steps Involved in the Autism Assessment Process
Understanding the process can help ease any concerns you may have about your child’s autism assessment. Here’s what you can expect:
Parent Intake Meeting
Duration: 1 hour (virtual)
The first step is a virtual meeting where our psychologist will conduct a parent interview. This session allows us to learn more about your child and explain the diagnostic evaluation process, helping us gather the necessary background information to provide individualized care.
Testing Session
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Timing: Scheduled within a week after the initial consultation
This in-person session takes place at our clinic and involves one-on-one testing with your child, conducted by our psychologist and a psychometrician. The testing assesses various areas of development using advanced tools. Parents are encouraged to be present to offer additional insights and support during the session.
Feedback Meeting
Duration: 1 hour (virtual)
Timing: 2 weeks after the testing session
Following the assessment, our psychologist will review the results in a virtual feedback meeting. During this session, you’ll receive a comprehensive overview of the findings, any applicable diagnoses, and recommendations for next steps, including services that could benefit your child.
Parent Involvement: A Key Part of the Process
Your role as a parent or caregiver is essential in our autism assessment process. During testing sessions, your presence and insights about your child’s behavior and development are invaluable. This collaborative approach ensures that our evaluations are thorough, accurate, and tailored to your child’s unique needs.
Diagnosis and Follow-Up Support
Once the autism assessment is complete, we schedule a virtual feedback meeting to discuss the results. Our psychologist will explain the diagnosis and provide clear, detailed recommendations for your child’s next steps. We also guide you in exploring intervention options, such as ABA therapy, speech therapy, and other support services, ensuring your family receives the help needed to foster your child’s development.
Ongoing Support After Diagnosis
Support doesn’t end with a diagnosis. At The Goldman Center of Chicago, we’re dedicated to helping your child thrive by providing tailored recommendations and referrals for the right interventions and services. We’re here to guide your family every step of the way, ensuring your child gets the developmental support they need.
Begin Your Child’s Autism Assessment Journey
Choosing The Goldman Center for your child’s autism assessment means partnering with a team that is committed to understanding and supporting your child’s unique needs. Together, we can provide the clarity and guidance needed to help your child thrive. Reach out to us today to learn more about our autism assessment services and how we can support your family’s journey.
Understand Your Child’s Needs with Expert Autism Assessment
Gain clarity and confidence with our comprehensive autism evaluations. Our compassionate team provides accurate diagnoses and personalized guidance, helping your child access the support they need to thrive. Discover a pathway to understanding and empowerment tailored to your family’s journey.
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"Our experience with The Goldman Center was incredibly supportive. They were there for us when we felt most vulnerable, quickly setting up an evaluation for our son when other places had long wait times. The staff treated us with kindness, answered all our questions thoroughly, and made us feel comfortable throughout the diagnosis process. They provided us with excellent resources and therapy programs, leading to great success for our son. We highly recommend The Goldman Center!"
"A friend recommended The Goldman Center to us, and now we recommend them to anyone who suspects their child may be neurodivergent. Getting a proper diagnosis was crucial for us, and we needed a place that was both thorough in testing and could clearly explain how our son's diagnosis specifically affected him. Goldman did exactly that, providing detailed insights and recommending resources tailored to our son's unique needs."
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Expert Evaluations to Continuous Care
Our expert evaluations provide a thorough understanding of your child's development, leading to personalized recommendations for ongoing support. From assessment to continuous care, we’re dedicated to guiding your child's growth every step of the way.
Autism Assessment & Diagnosis
Get a thorough, individualized evaluation using advanced tools to accurately identify autism spectrum disorder. Families receive a clear understanding of their child’s needs, along with personalized recommendations for effective interventions and support.
Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation
Receive a detailed assessment of your child’s development across key areas like speech, cognition, and social skills. This holistic evaluation identifies strengths and challenges, guiding tailored recommendations for ongoing growth.
Medical Diagnostic Evaluation
Access a multidisciplinary assessment by a developmental pediatrician and licensed therapists to identify developmental delays. Tailored recommendations for early intervention and ongoing support are provided through the Illinois Early Intervention program.
Ongoing Therapy Services
Connect with expert recommendations and trusted therapy providers to ensure ongoing support tailored to your child’s unique developmental needs, fostering long-term success.
