Diagnostic Evaluation
Parents are often the first to notice that their child is different. At Caravel Autism Health, we are autism health specialists committed to working with families to help them identify the underlying cause for a child’s behavior.
Importance of Early Intervention
Autism researchers agree that the earlier children can be diagnosed, the more effective their therapy options can be. Early diagnosis can mean quicker access to the medical, behavioral, and social services that a child may need. Studies have shown that early intervention can lead to an improved quality of life for a child in the future, especially when it comes to academics and relationships. The power of early intervention comes from the brain’s neuroplasticity, or ability to change. Neuroplasticity is what allows a person to learn and retain new skills. So the earlier children can begin receiving therapies, the better the chance they have of gaining the skills they need to navigate key life experiences.
*Note: When required by insurance, our doctors are able to complete in-person evaluations with the support of our master’s degree–level clinicians. In these situations, one of our master’s degree–level clinicians will first conduct the diagnostic interview via telehealth in order to gather necessary information for the insurance company to authorize the evaluation. Once the authorization has been obtained, then a master’s degree–level clinician will administer a number of psychological tests in-person with the child at one of Caravel’s clinics. Results are then provided to the doctor, who will interpret the results and provide feedback during a final telehealth appointment.
The Process of Evaluation
Watch the video to learn about more about the process of diagnostic evaluation and the benefits of early intervention for the best outcomes.
Our Psychologists
Learn more about our team of licensed psychologists. These clinicians provide testing, counseling, and clinical coordination with teammates across Caravel and have an average of more than a decade of experience evaluating children’s behavioral and developmental needs.
Dr. Mike is a child and adolescent psychologist with decades of experience working with individuals and their families. Prior to graduating from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2007 with his doctorate in clinical psychology, Dr. Mike earned two master’s degrees in psychology. Throughout his education and training, he has focused his attention on the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents. Following the confirmation of his doctoral degree, Dr. Mike specialized his clinical focus on Autism Spectrum Disability (ASD) and has completed a post-graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). He has personally worked with individuals diagnosed with ASD in individual psychotherapy and in group settings.
An integral member of Caravel Autism Health since 2016, Dr. Mike played a key role in advancing Psychological Services to where it is today. He is responsible for developing the comprehensive assessment battery utilized throughout Caravel and for integrating psychotherapeutic services, such as individual psychotherapy and family support, into the offerings of the organization.
Dr. Chuck focuses on the evaluation and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disability, as well as providing psychotherapy services for individuals and families. He completed his master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, directing his clinical training toward working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disability, specifically focusing on psychological and neuropsychological assessment. Dr. Chuck has provided such evaluations in private practice, accredited outpatient hospitals, foster care, and forensic settings. His doctoral dissertation, “Parental Perceptions of Screen-Based Media Use in Children Referred for Autism Spectrum Disability Assessment” was awarded Best Original Research in Progress by the Illinois Psychological Association and was subsequently “defended with distinction.”
Dr. Chuck is a firm believer in meeting individuals at their level and helping develop interests into strengths. A self-described “geek therapist,” he has participated in panels discussing the therapeutic uses of video and tabletop games at world-renowned conventions such as GenCon and DragonCon and approaches psychotherapeutic treatment using his clients’ interests and passions as a way to grow and develop adaptive life skills.
Dr. Danielle began working with individuals on the autism spectrum and providing diagnostic evaluations and therapy to individuals and their families upon graduating from the Chicago School of Psychology’s clinical psychology program. In addition to Autism Spectrum Disability, she also has worked with individuals impacted by depression, anxiety, trauma, and mood struggles related to health impairments.
Dr. Danielle enjoys utilizing pop culture during therapeutic intervention to establish rapport and to engage individuals in therapy. She tailors treatment plans to the individual needs of each client and prefers to use a collaborative approach to treatment, actively involving the client and/or their parents in the treatment planning process. Dr. Danielle delights in celebrating the unique victories and successes of her clients and seeks to be an advocate for every child and family with whom she works.
Dr. Emily comes to Caravel with extensive expertise in development across a child’s lifespan, including child and adolescent development, AD/HD, autism, neuropsychology, as well as assessment, differential diagnosis, and testing. She is also experienced with trauma and its impact on development, TBI (traumatic brain injury), parent training, individual psychotherapy with children, teens, and adults, and clinical supervision. Prior to Caravel, Dr. Emily worked in a number of settings in a direct care clinical capacity, including hospitals, community clinics, and private practice settings. She completed her doctorate degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University and her master of special education at University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Emily is very interested in technology use and screen addiction and its impact on child development and families. She also believes in movement-based, music-based, and play-based approaches to fostering healthy development and enjoys solving problems and coming up with new ideas that work for each child and family.
Dr. Meg has been providing behavior intervention for individuals with developmental disabilities and neuropsychological evaluation since 2008. She has worked as a clinical psychologist in private practice as well as a BCBA consultant in both private and public agencies. Dr. Meg earned her bachelor’s degree from University of California, Santa Barbara; her master of science in counseling with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Nova Southeastern University; and her doctorate in clinical psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She did her post-doctoral training in forensic neuropsychology and is currently completing a three-year training program in somatic experiencing.
In Their Own Words
I am so grateful for this place. The staff are so amazing and supportive. I’m definitely gonna miss this place, so is my son, when he has graduated. My son is a whole different person coming here. He has learned so much and overcome so much. I highly recommend this place.
We had a wonderful experience—our family was incorporated into all decisions, great progress was made, and we knew our child truly was taken care of in some of the best hands. Thank you for all you have done to change our family’s life!
Receiving my son’s diagnosis was new and scary to us, and we had no idea how to move forward to make sure he had the best help he could get. We were recommended Caravel and we couldn’t be any more grateful for it! Everyone was so helpful and caring every step of the way. He is a different kid since he started with Caravel, and we are forever grateful we placed him where we did!
My son has been attending therapy for almost 2 years now and he has improved a lot. He was nonverbal when he started, and now he talks a lot and makes lots of requests which he did not do before his diagnosis. I would highly recommend this place for those parents who are looking for an autism center for their kid.
Frequently Asked Questions
An autism evaluation is a targeted assessment of a child’s social communication skills along with opportunities to observe and discuss restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. An autism evaluation is important because it helps to identify (or rule out) the presence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which opens the door to access services and supports that are not available without the diagnosis.
At Caravel Counseling & Diagnostics, we use a team-based approach to assessment. Depending on insurance requirements, a doctor may complete an initial interview with a parent or caregiver and then conduct a structured observation of the child. In other instances, a master’s level clinician (referred to as a Diagnostic Clinical Therapist) may conduct the interview and administer psychological tests to the child, with the doctor interpreting the results and providing feedback.
When looking specifically at Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a diagnostician will be evaluating a child’s ability to socially connect and communicate, as well as asking about and observing restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior (e.g., simple motor stereotypes, sensory issues, and problems with change).
There is no average age to receive an autism diagnosis and we encourage parents to receive an evaluation as early as possible when they start to be concerned about their child’s development. We can start seeing signs of social communication deficits as early as 12 months of age, with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior emerging between 12 and 36 months of age.
Included in the evaluation process is an initial interview, which can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. Following the interview, depending on the evaluation format, the assessment can take 30 minutes to three hours. Finally, there is a parent/caregiver feedback appointment, which can take, depending on the amount of information to discuss, 30 to 60 minutes.
If your child receives a telehealth evaluation, depending on his or her age and level of communication skills, you can expect to support the doctor’s observations by engaging in a number of structured activities with your child (older children with more developed communication skills will interact directly with the doctor). If you child receives an in-person evaluation, (again) depending on his or her age and level of communication skills, you will be asked to sit in the room with the technician as the tests are administered to your child. If your child is older and has age-appropriate language skills, you may be asked to wait in the waiting room.
