FAQs
What is the process for an autism assessment?
The assessment process for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is conducted via telehealth, and includes 3 sessions. You may work with a team of an assessor and a diagnostician, or with a single diagnostician throughout all of the sessions, depending on team availability in your area.
First is a 20-30 minute screening session. Your assessor will have questions for you, and you may also ask any questions about the process. At the end of the screening session, we will have a recommendation as to whether or not you might benefit from a full autism assessment. If the screener does not support assessment, you may choose to stop there and owe nothing. If it does support and you’d like to go forward with a full autism assessment, another session will be scheduled, and paperwork, including a test with questions to answer, will be uploaded for you to fill out.
The second session lasts from 1 hour to an hour and a half. It consists of an interview using the Marsh Assessment Collection (MAC) questionnaires for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adults (ASDA). These questionnaires provide information pertinent to criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). The MAC:ASDA questionnaires are designed to look “behind the mask” to make an accurate diagnosis with individuals who have camouflaged or masked their autistic characteristics for years.
The third and final session lasts approximately 30 minutes. During this session your diagnostician will share the results of the assessment and your diagnosis, and you may ask any questions. Within 2 days you will receive a diagnostic letter, and within 4 weeks you will receive a comprehensive written report, uploaded as a pdf.
What is the process for an ADHD assessment?
An assessment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be conducted as an add-on to an ASD assessment, or as a stand-alone assessment.
When added to an ASD assessment, an additional session is required, with one form to complete in advance and others to be administered during the third of four telehealth sessions.
An ADHD-only assessment requires one session, and a diagnosis will be made by the end of the session.
What is the process for a sensory processing disorder (SPD) assessment?
An assessment for sensory processing disorder (SPD) may be conducted as an add-on to an ASD assessment, or a second add-on to an ASD & ADHD assessment, or as a stand-alone assessment.
When added to ASD or to ASD & ADHD, an additional session is required.
An SPD-only stand-alone assessment can be done in one session with advance paperwork being completed.
Because SPD is not recognized as a disability by the DSM-5-TR a diagnosis is not made, but an identification with scores and supporting information is provided in the written report.
Do you need to interview my parents?
While we do need to document that the characteristics or symptoms were present during the developmental period, we do not require parent input in order to make this determination. We work with adults who remember enough of their own childhood to provide sufficient developmental information. However, if you feel that additional input from a parent, sibling, or other who knew you well during your childhood, you may request the optional MAC:ASDA-OI (Marsh Assessment Collection: Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults – Other Input.) We will upload it to the Client Portal for you to share with your parent, friend or family at your request.
What is the cost for assessment?
Find our current rates here.
What forms of payments do you accept?
We accept major credit cards or checks. Checks must be received and cleared prior to the assessment. Credit cards will be charged immediately after each session.
Do you take my insurance?
We are a self-pay practice; we do not accept or bill any insurance.
Can I pay for my assessment over time?
Payments are spread out across the sessions. If you need to save money up, you may schedule a longer time between sessions, as you prefer.
Do you have a sliding scale?
We do not have a sliding scale.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
If you are unable to attend a session, please contact us to cancel as soon as you know, preferably at least 24 hours beforehand. We save this time slot for you, and your assessor will be there ready to see you for your assessment. If you do not attend or cancel in advance, we will not charge a cancellation fee. You’re probably already having a bad day, and being charged an additional fee will not help. If you miss your assessment session, contact us and we will reschedule for you. However, you will be scheduled after all existing appointments, resulting in a longer wait until your diagnosis is complete.
Any Other Questions?
Please contact us for any additional questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you!
