Autism Evaluation

According to the CDC about 1 in 31 children (≈ 3.2%) aged 8 in the U.S. have been identified with autism as of 2022. Autism diagnoses occur across all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.

The National Institute of Mental Health notes that Autism is more than 3 times as common among boys as girls.

“Research indicates that more than 96% of individuals with autism have at least one co-occurring condition, such as developmental delay, behavioral challenges, anxiety, or other health issues.” — National Institutes of Health (NIH), published in Frontiers in Psychiatry

What is Autism?

Autism—often called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)—is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the way a child communicates, interacts with others, and experiences the world. It is not a disease and it is not caused by anything a parent did or didn’t do. Autism simply means a child’s brain develops and processes information differently.

Children with autism may:

Communicate or socialize in ways that look different from peers
Prefer routines or need predictability
Have strong interests or deep focus on specific topics
Experience sounds, lights, or textures more intensely
Learn best through visual or structured supports

Because autism exists on a spectrum, every child is unique—some may need more support in daily tasks, while others are highly independent but benefit from help with social communication or flexibility.

With understanding, individualized support, and environments that honor their strengths, children with autism can learn, connect, and thrive.

Think This

The Autism Wheel Model represents autism as a circle of core areas, rather than a scale from “mild” to “severe.” Each section of the wheel reflects a different area of development or experience—such as communication, sensory processing, social interaction, or emotional regulation.

Every autistic individual has a unique profile, with some areas of the wheel being more prominent and others less impacted. This model helps families and professionals understand that autism looks different in every person and that strengths and needs can exist side by side.

Not This

The linear model describes autism as a single spectrum line, often interpreted as ranging from “less autistic” to “more autistic,” or from “high functioning” to “low functioning.” In this model, individuals are placed somewhere along one continuum based on how noticeable or impactful their traits appear.

This approach suggests that autism can be measured by severity alone, rather than by differences across multiple areas of development. While it may seem simple, it often overlooks the complexity of how autism actually presents in real life.

“Ready for clarity and next steps?”

Schedule a consultation to talk through your concerns and learn how a personalized autism evaluation can support your child.

Schedule an Autism Evaluation

What is an Autism Evaluation?

It’s a detailed look at how your child communicates, interacts with others, plays, and responds to the world around them.
The goal is to understand your child’s strengths, challenges, and unique way of learning and relating to others.

Think an autism diagnosis automatically leads to an IEP?

This is one of the most common misconceptions—and it often leaves families feeling confused and frustrated. Understanding the difference between a diagnosis and educational eligibility is where PLACE’s expertise truly shines. We help families make sense of the process and move forward with clarity and confidence.

What does the evaluation look at?

An autism evaluation may explore how your child:

Communicates
(uses words, gestures, eye contact, or facial expressions)
Socializes
(interacts with family and peers, enjoys back-and-forth play)
Plays and imagines
(pretend play, interests, how they use toys)
Handles routines and changes
(comfort with transitions, reactions to new situations)
Processes sensory information
(sensitivity to sounds, lights, textures, or movement)
Repeats behaviors or has strong interests
(lining up toys, focusing deeply on certain topics)

“Not sure if an autism evaluation is the right fit?”

Let’s start with a conversation. We’ll help you understand your options and what support could look like moving forward.

We are Here to Answer Your Questions

What makes PLACE evaluations unique?

At PLACE, we believe no two children are alike—and their autism evaluations shouldn’t be either. We take the time to tailor each assessment to your child’s unique needs, using a thoughtful blend of autism rating scales, the ADOS-2, and the specialized insight of a Speech-Language Pathologist. This allows us to move beyond surface-level testing and truly understand your child’s strengths, challenges, and communication style.

Our goal is not just to assess, but to honor who your child is and provide clarity, understanding, and a meaningful path forward.