Autism Evaluations for Children and Teens
Understanding whether a child has autism is one of the most significant questions a family can bring to a psychologist. A well-conducted autism evaluation provides clarity: it explains what you have been observing, confirms or rules out an autism diagnosis, and gives you a concrete picture of your child's profile, including their strengths.
Encore Psychology offers comprehensive autism evaluations for children and teens from age two through seventeen, conducted by Dr. Brooke Colman, a licensed Clinical Psychologist trained across pediatric, medical, and assessment-based settings.
Why a comprehensive evaluation matters
Autism can present very differently from one child to another. Some children are identified early; others move through early childhood without a diagnosis despite meaningful differences in how they communicate, connect, or navigate sensory environments. Girls, teenagers, and autistic children who have developed strong coping strategies are among those most often missed or misunderstood by briefer screenings.
A comprehensive evaluation draws on multiple sources: structured observation, standardized assessment tools, caregiver interviews, rating scales, and developmental history. It does not rely on a single observation or a single rater. That breadth makes the findings more accurate and the recommendations more practical.
Our evaluation process
The autism evaluation at Encore Psychology typically involves:
- An intake session with Dr. Colman and caregivers to gather full developmental history, family context, and the specific questions you need the evaluation to address
- Standardized autism-specific assessment measures, selected based on your child's age, profile, and presenting questions
- Cognitive and adaptive behavior testing to understand the full picture, not just the diagnostic question
- Caregiver and, where applicable, teacher rating scales
- Behavioral observations during testing
- A feedback session after testing to walk through findings with the family
Evaluation intake session with you (~50 minutes)
We start with a real conversation with you, the parent. What you've been noticing, when patterns started, what your child's developmental history looks like, what previous evaluations or services your child has had, and what you'd want a report to do for you and for your child's school or therapeutic team.
Evaluation sessions with your child (1 to 3 sessions)
The testing itself. Standardized cognitive and clinical measures, age-appropriate interactive tasks, and, when appropriate, structured observational assessment. We pace sessions for your child; breaks are normal. Most child and teen autism evaluations are completed across 2 or 3 sessions.
Collateral information from teachers, therapists, or pediatricians
With your permission, we'll request structured input from the adults who know your child in other settings. This adds important context to the clinical picture and helps the report's recommendations be specific to school and therapy.
Scoring, integration, and a written report
We integrate the testing data, the clinical observations, the developmental history, and the collateral input. The report is detailed; the diagnostic conclusion is one section; the recommendations are the larger part.
Feedback session with you
We sit down together and walk through the report. You'll leave with the report itself, a clear sense of what each recommendation means in practical terms, and answers to any questions you have.
A 48-hour expedited turnaround is available, useful when an IEP meeting, school placement decision, or therapy admission is timing-sensitive. We'll discuss it during intake if you'd like.
What the report covers
Every evaluation concludes with a comprehensive, multi-page written report. The report includes:
- Developmental and background history
- Behavioral observations during testing
- Test scores and clinical interpretation
- Diagnostic impressions
- Individualized recommendations for home, school, and any follow-up evaluations or services
The recommendations section is written to be useful, not generic. It translates findings into strategies: what accommodations to request at school, what therapy approaches may be a good fit, and what to consider as your child grows.
The report can be shared with your child's school, pediatrician, therapists, or any other providers involved in their care.
| Payment method | Report turnaround |
|---|---|
| Private pay | 5 to 10 business days after testing |
| Insurance (BCBS, BCN, Priority Health) | 6 to 8 weeks after testing |
| Expedited (private pay only) | 48 hours after testing, for an additional fee |
In person at Bloomfield Hills
Child and teen evaluations are in-person at our Bloomfield Hills office. The space is set up to feel calm and unhurried, closer to a comfortable living room than a clinical waiting room, because children do their best work when they feel safe.
Some parts of the evaluation work better with everyone in the same room. The clinical observation that's part of an autism evaluation, in particular, is harder to do well on a screen.
What this costs and how it's paid for
Encore Psychology is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Blue Care Network (BCN), and Priority Health. Private pay is also available.
Location and scheduling
Encore Psychology is located at 33 Bloomfield Hills Parkway, Suite 225, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304, and is available Monday through Friday for in-person evaluations. The time from initial contact to a first appointment is typically around six weeks. Please let us know if your situation involves an urgent timeline.
Encore Psychology is part of Michigan Healthcare Professionals (MHP), a larger affiliated physician group.
Questions parents ask before scheduling
At what age can my child be evaluated?
We evaluate children and teens from age two through seventeen. For younger children we use developmentally-appropriate tools that fit the child's age and language level.
Will the evaluation result in a diagnosis?
An evaluation produces diagnostic clarity, sometimes that's an autism diagnosis, sometimes a different diagnosis (or several, given how often things overlap at this age), sometimes a clear "no" with a different explanation for what you've been noticing. The point is to know.
Can the report be used for the IEP / 504 process?
Yes, recommendations are written specifically to be carried into IEP and 504 conversations. We can also coordinate directly with the school team if you'd like that included.
My child has an ADHD diagnosis already. Should we still evaluate for autism?
Often, yes. ADHD and autism overlap meaningfully, and many children who first receive an ADHD diagnosis are later evaluated for autism when the original framework didn't fully fit. We can structure the evaluation to look at both at once if that's the question.
My pediatrician already screened my child for autism. Do we still need a full evaluation?
A pediatrician's screening is a useful first step but isn't the same as a diagnostic evaluation. A full evaluation gives you a clear diagnostic conclusion, a detailed report, and specific recommendations, including the documentation needed for school services and accommodations.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can schedule directly.
How long does the report take?
Standard turnaround is 5 to 10 business days after the final session for private pay, and 6 to 8 weeks for insurance. A 48-hour expedited private-pay option is available for an additional fee, which is useful when there's a fixed-date decision (like an IEP meeting).
My child is anxious about testing. What should I tell them?
Most of the children we see are nervous when they arrive. We meet them in the waiting room, walk them through what the day will look like, and offer breaks freely. There are fidget toys, snacks, and a calm room. We'll talk through what to say to your child during the intake conversation with you.
Ready to get started?
Our reception team can answer questions about the evaluation process and coordinate a time to connect with Dr. Colman.
A first conversation, on your terms.
Reach out by phone or message. We return inquiries within one to two business days.