Autism
Could autism explain a lifelong pattern of difference for you or your child? An evaluation can put a name to it and connect it to support that fits. Encore Psychology evaluates children, teens, and adults across metro Detroit and Michigan.
Does This Sound Familiar?
People reach out to Encore about autism for reasons like these:
- Social back-and-forth that takes real effort to read or keep up with
- Noise, light, or texture that feels stronger or harder to tune out than it seems to for others
- Routines that matter deeply, and real distress when they change
- Years of adapting or masking that have become draining to keep up
- Seeing yourself in a family member’s new diagnosis, or in other autistic people’s stories
- A child whose speech, play, or milestones look different from other kids
- Teachers or family noticing patterns before anyone had a name for them
Seeing yourself or your child in this list does not tell you whether autism is the explanation. That is the question an evaluation is built to answer.
What Autism Can Mean
Autism spectrum disorder shapes how a person talks and connects, takes in the senses, builds relationships, and moves through the world. No two autistic people have the same experience of it.
Autism looks different at every age. In childhood, families may notice differences in speech, play, social connection, or repeated routines. In adults, the signs can be harder to see, especially for people who learned to adapt or mask over time. Many autistic adults are not diagnosed until later in life. That is common among women and people whose coping made the differences less visible.
For many people, an evaluation is the start of a longer process of self-understanding. For others, it confirms what they have known for years. Either way, it can put a name to a personal history and open the door to accommodations and support that fit real experience.
When an Evaluation May Be Appropriate
An autism evaluation is worth considering when:
- A child is not meeting milestones the way families or doctors expected
- A teen is struggling socially, or the senses feel like too much
- A school has noticed patterns in speech, play, or routines
- An adult sees themselves in a family member’s new diagnosis, or in other autistic people’s stories
- Years of masking have made the pattern hard for others to see
- School or work accommodations would need formal paperwork
Testing does not promise a set result. It shows whether autism is part of the picture, how it shows up for that person, and what support and next steps are most likely to be useful. A diagnosis is a start, not the whole answer.
How Encore Evaluates Autism
Testing at Encore starts with the person, not a fixed set of tests. Dr. Colman meets with you first, listens to your history and your concerns, then picks standardized tests that fit the question you came in with. For children and teens, testing draws on caregiver input alongside direct testing.
- Adult Autism Evaluation covers testing for adults, including those asking the question for the first time
- Autism Evaluation for Children and Teens covers testing for younger people, from early questions to school referrals
- The Evaluation Process walks through each stage, including current scheduling and report turnaround
- Online Evaluations explains where telehealth testing is available for adults, and where it is not
If the question turns out to belong somewhere else, we will tell you that plainly. Encore Psychology is a non-prescribing practice. We do not provide medication management, ABA therapy, or psychiatric care, and we are glad to coordinate with your physician or other providers.
Get StartedWho You Will Be Working With
Encore Psychology was founded by Dr. Brooke Colman, a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Michigan. She trained in medical and hospital settings, assessment practices, college counseling centers, and Veterans Affairs facilities. Encore Psychology is part of Michigan Healthcare Professionals (MHP), a larger affiliated physician group.
Read more about Dr. Colman and the practice →What to Expect
- Reach out. Our reception team sets up scheduling and can talk through whether testing fits your situation before you commit to anything.
- Intake session. A dedicated meeting about your history, the patterns you or your family have noticed, and what you want the testing to answer. For children and teens, caregivers take part.
- Testing. Tests done in person in Bloomfield Hills, Monday through Friday, on paper and on an iPad. This is not a test you pass or fail.
- Feedback session. Dr. Colman walks you through what the results show, in plain language, including strengths as well as struggles.
- Your written report. Multi-page, with sections for background and history, what we saw during testing, results and what they mean, diagnostic impressions, and recommendations.
The recommendations read like a roadmap: strategies for daily life, accommodations where they fit, paperwork you can share with a school, workplace, or care team, and referrals to therapy and other supports when they are a good fit. Reports are written to stay useful after the appointment is over.
Coverage for autism testing varies by plan. Reach out before scheduling and we will check your specific benefits. See Fees and Insurance for how payment works.
If you are a physician or care team making a referral, see For Providers.
Common Questions
- Is it too late to be evaluated as an adult?
- No. Many autistic adults are not diagnosed until adulthood, often women and people who learned to adapt over time. By the time testing happens, there may be decades of experience to account for, and the evaluation is built to account for them.
- Do you provide ABA therapy?
- No. We do not provide ABA therapy. Encore evaluates, explains what we find, and includes referrals to therapy and other fitting supports in the report when indicated. Therapy is also available at Encore.
- What changes after a diagnosis?
- For many people, a diagnosis puts a name to a lifelong pattern of difference. It can open the door to accommodations at school or work, and to support that fits your real experience rather than guesswork.
- My child's school noticed differences. Is an evaluation the next step?
- Often, yes. Families and schools often notice patterns before a formal diagnosis is in place. Testing can clarify what is going on and produce paperwork that schools can act on.
Contact Us
Encore Psychology is located at 33 Bloomfield Hills Parkway, Suite 225, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304, with testing available Monday through Friday. Telehealth testing is available to eligible adults through PSYPACT (the interstate telehealth compact) in 40 states.
Reach out when you are ready. Our reception team will set up a time and walk you through what comes next.
Get StartedRelated Conditions
- ADHD, which affects attention and follow-through and can overlap with autism
- Learning Disorders, which affect how people read, write, and work with numbers
- Memory and Cognitive Concerns, which cover changes in memory, focus, and thinking in adults
Reviewed by Dr. Brooke Colman, licensed Clinical Psychologist (Michigan). Last reviewed August 17, 2026.
This page is general information about autism and autism testing. It is not medical or psychological advice, not a diagnosis, and not a substitute for care from a qualified provider. If you have questions about autism for yourself or your child, reach out to us or to your physician.
A first conversation, on your terms.
Reach out by phone or message. We return inquiries within one to two business days.