Autism Spectrum Disorder
A neuropsychological evaluation at CAAT can help clarify the unique needs for individuals suspected of having, or who have received a diagnosis of, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – and for young people who have social challenges, but do not fall on the autism spectrum.
We believe the exceptional neuropsychological strengths of individuals on the autism spectrum afford them exceptional opportunities to contribute to society. Understanding the underlying cause(s) of an individual’s challenges is critical to appropriately meeting the person’s developmental needs.”
Our autism clinic is staffed with renowned experts in areas of assessment and diagnosis of individuals with autism spectrum and related disorders. We also specialize in treatment planning and management of services for individuals with ASD and social conditions, providing personalized support to the whole family and a range of individual and group ASD treatment/therapy options.
CAAT neuropsychologists have evaluated hundreds of children, adolescents, and adults in clinical and research settings – we have extensive experience with and understanding of autism. We work collaboratively: working with one of our clinicians grants access to the full breadth of our experience and knowledge from our whole team. Dr. Black has obtained clinical and research reliability in the administration of the Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADOS), gold-standard instruments used in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders.
Autism & Learning Challenges
In our experience, it is rare to find a student with a social disorder who does not have difficulty with academic learning and/or performance. At a minimum, children and teens on the autism spectrum are likely to have trouble distinguishing main ideas from supporting details in their reading material, understanding the social logic of fiction, and interpreting the language in textbooks or literature in a non-literal manner (e.g., drawing inferences, interpreting idioms and metaphors, or ambiguously worded statements). Almost all students with social disorders struggle with the organizational aspects of written composition and find it hard to write ideas in a way that a reader will easily understand.
We are committed to determining effective ways for individuals to address learning disorders. We know that difficulty with academic learning and work production (particularly if unidentified and untreated) often creates as much stress, frustration, and discouragement for students on the spectrum as their social difficulties do. One major goal of our evaluation services and individual assessments is to identify any existing learning disabilities and help students with social disorders gain the services they need to address them.
Understanding a Diagnosis
A diagnosis of autism spectrum or related disorder can feel overwhelming or even frightening. Our diagnostic evaluations are specifically tailored to address the questions clients and their families have regarding social challenges and possible social disorder/autism spectrum disorder diagnoses.
In addition to diagnostic evaluations, we offer consultation appointments for individuals or families of the individuals who have received a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Our goal is to provide plain language explanations and recommendations to help support clients effectively navigate their diagnosis and the social world.
Treatment
Our team at CAAT is highly qualified and experienced in the assessment and treatment of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. We understand the entire family system is impacted by an autism spectrum and related disorders diagnosis, which is why we provide specialized services not only for the individual on the autism spectrum, but also the family as a whole.
Learn about our treatment options for individuals and the family members of individuals with social challenges or autism spectrum disorder.