Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts socially, and processes the world around them. No two children with autism present the same way — the “spectrum” reflects a wide range of strengths, challenges, and support needs.
An autism evaluation is a structured clinical assessment designed to determine whether a child’s behavioral, developmental, and communication patterns are consistent with a diagnosis of ASD. The evaluation draws on direct observation, clinical interviews, caregiver input, and standardized assessment tools.
A formal diagnosis opens the door to services, supports, educational accommodations, and therapies that can dramatically improve a child’s quality of life — and help families navigate with greater confidence and clarity.
💡 Early diagnosis matters. Research consistently shows that children who receive appropriate support earlier experience better long-term developmental outcomes.
Our autism diagnostic service is designed for children in Nevada whose families are concerned about developmental differences, social communication challenges, or behaviors that may point toward autism. Whether you’re seeking a first-time evaluation or a second opinion, we’re here to help.
Early evaluation is especially impactful. If your toddler or preschooler shows delays in speech, limited social engagement, or repetitive behaviors, an early assessment can unlock critical early intervention services.
If your child's primary care doctor has flagged developmental concerns or referred you for a psychiatric evaluation, we can provide the comprehensive assessment your family needs after your appointment.
Many children reach school age before their differences become clearly apparent in peer and classroom settings. Evaluation helps identify support needs and guides IEP/504 accommodations.
Teachers and school counselors frequently identify children who may benefit from evaluation. We work alongside schools to provide thorough clinical assessments that inform educational planning.
Some children — especially girls and those with strong verbal skills — go undiagnosed until their teen years. A clear diagnosis can relieve years of confusion and open pathways to meaningful support.
You don't need a referral to seek answers. If you've been wondering whether your child's behavior fits an autism profile, trust your instincts — we're here to provide clear, compassionate answers.
An official diagnosis qualifies children for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech therapy, occupational therapy, and other specialized interventions that are often covered by insurance.
Understanding why your child thinks and behaves the way they do reduces family stress, improves communication, and helps everyone respond with greater empathy and effectiveness.
Our comprehensive evaluation report doesn't just provide a diagnosis — it offers detailed, actionable recommendations so you know exactly what to do next.
A diagnosis supports the development of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 plans, ensuring your child receives the in-school support they're legally entitled to.
Early intervention is the most effective tool for improving communication, social skills, and adaptive behaviors. The sooner a child is identified, the sooner support can begin.
We assess not just challenges but also your child's unique strengths and learning style. This holistic view helps families and educators build on what makes each child exceptional.
Contact Care Anywhere Psychiatry to book your child's evaluation. Our team will gather basic intake information and answer any initial questions about the process, timeline, and cost. This is a cash-pay service while our Nevada insurance contracts are being finalized.
Before the appointment, parents or guardians will be asked to complete detailed developmental history forms and standardized behavioral questionnaires. We may also request input from your child's school or pediatrician (with your permission). This background information is essential for an accurate assessment.
Our clinician will conduct a structured interview with the parent or caregiver to explore your child's developmental history, family history, current behaviors, social functioning, and your specific concerns. This is your opportunity to share everything you've observed.
Our clinician will interact directly with your child using structured and semi-structured activities designed to assess social communication, play, language, and behavior. This is conducted in a calm, child-friendly environment. Depending on your child's age and needs, this portion may last one to several hours.
Following the evaluation session(s), our clinician will score and analyze all assessment data, review questionnaire results, integrate clinical observations, and formulate clinical impressions. This thorough review process ensures accuracy and nuance in the final report.
You'll receive a comprehensive written evaluation report detailing findings, diagnostic conclusions, your child's strengths and challenges, and specific recommendations. We'll also schedule a feedback appointment to walk through the report together and answer your questions. You'll never be left to figure it out alone.
There is no single test that can diagnose autism. Instead, a thorough evaluation pulls together parent interviews, developmental history, and direct observation of your child — often supported by standardized screening and diagnostic tools. Below is an overview of the instruments most commonly used in pediatric autism assessment, so you know what to expect and why each one matters.
Screening tools are typically used earlier in the process to identify whether a child may be showing signs of autism and would benefit from a full diagnostic evaluation. Most are completed by parents or caregivers.
ASQ
A broad developmental screener covering communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-adaptive skills relative to the child's age. Scored on a simple pass/fail basis.
CSBS
Designed for infants and toddlers up to 24 months. Parents report how often specific communication and symbolic behaviors appear, helping flag early red flags before verbal language fully develops.
PEDS
A general, open-ended questionnaire completed by parents for children from birth through age 18. It screens development, behavior, social-emotional health, and autism risk, and is designed to encourage ongoing conversations between families and their pediatrician.
M-CHAT-R/F
A one-page, parent-completed questionnaire for children 16 to 30 months old. Results are categorized as low, moderate, or high risk for ASD based on social, emotional, communicative, and developmental behaviors. This is one of the most widely used early screeners.
STAT
Unlike parent-completed screeners, the STAT is administered by a trained clinician and uses 12 interactive items to observe the child directly. It takes about 20 minutes and offers a more hands-on early screening option.
If a screening indicates that further assessment is warranted, a clinician may use one or more diagnostic tools. No single tool is used in isolation — the most accurate diagnoses come from combining parent interviews, questionnaires, and direct observation of and interaction with your child.
ADI-R
A structured, interview-based tool for children and adults with a mental age of at least 18 months. It focuses on three core areas: reciprocal social interaction; communication and language; and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped interests and behaviors.
ADOS-2
A semi-structured, observation-based assessment that lets the clinician directly observe social interaction, communication, play, and imaginative use of materials. The ADOS-2 is widely considered the gold-standard tool for autism assessment (see the callout below for more detail).
💡 A Closer Look at the ADOS-2
The ADOS-2 is one of the most trusted tools in autism assessment — and it is a key part of the comprehensive evaluations we provide. Unlike questionnaires that rely on parent report, the ADOS-2 is a direct-observation assessment. The clinician interacts with your child in real time using structured and semi-structured activities designed to draw out social, communicative, and play behaviors. It is suitable for individuals as young as 12 months through adulthood.
The Five ADOS-2 Modules:
| Module | Who it’s for |
|---|---|
| Toddler module | Ages 12–30 months who do not yet use phrase speech |
| Module 1 | Over 30 months, not using phrase speech |
| Module 2 | Using phrase speech but not yet verbally fluent |
| Module 3 | Verbally fluent children and adolescents |
| Module 4 | Verbally fluent older adolescents and adults |
Each module typically takes 30 to 60 minutes and includes activities such as free play, storytelling, pretend play, or conversational tasks depending on the child’s developmental level. Throughout, our clinician observes and scores behaviors such as eye contact, response to name, use of gestures, shared enjoyment, and repetitive actions.
The ADOS-2 is a powerful tool, but it is only one piece of the diagnostic picture. We always pair it with developmental history, parent and caregiver interviews, and other standardized measures to arrive at a well-rounded, accurate diagnosis.
CARS
A brief assessment for children over age 2 that combines two 15-item rating scales with a parent/caregiver questionnaire.
GARS
A written rating assessment for individuals ages 3 to 22 suspected of having ASD. It focuses on three characteristic areas — stereotyped behaviors, communication, and social interaction — and is commonly used across both home and school settings to help identify severity.
A full autism evaluation typically takes place over one to two appointments. The evaluation itself may last 2–4 hours depending on your child's age and how the session flows. Young children may need additional breaks or a second session.
Parents and caregivers are an essential part of the process. You will be involved in both the preparation (questionnaires) and the evaluation itself (caregiver interview). Your observations and insights are invaluable clinical data.
If the evaluation does not result in an autism diagnosis, that information is still valuable. We will share what we observed, rule out other possible explanations, and provide any relevant referrals or recommendations.
A diagnosis supports the development of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 plans, ensuring your child receives the in-school support they're legally entitled to.
Expect to receive your written report within 2–4 weeks after the evaluation is complete. The report is detailed, readable, and written for families. It includes the diagnosis, clinical reasoning, and specific next-step recommendations.
Our relationship with your family doesn't end after the report. We're available to answer questions, assist with referrals to therapists and specialists, and provide ongoing psychiatric care as needed within our practice.
Our autism evaluation service for children is currently offered on a cash-pay / self-pay basis in Nevada. We are actively working to finalize our Nevada insurance contracts, and we anticipate accepting insurance in the near future.
We understand that evaluation costs can feel significant. Please contact our office directly to discuss pricing, payment plans, and available options. We're committed to making this process as accessible as possible for Nevada families.
We recommend that patients check with their insurance provider, as some plans may offer out-of-network reimbursement for psychiatric diagnostic services — your insurer may reimburse a portion of the evaluation cost even without an in-network contract.
Autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as age 2, and early diagnosis is strongly encouraged. We evaluate children across a wide age range from toddlers through adolescence. Earlier diagnosis allows for earlier access to intervention services, which research shows leads to better outcomes.
Autism evaluations require in-person clinical observation and direct interaction with your child, so this service is conducted in person at our Nevada location. Telehealth is not appropriate for autism diagnostic assessments due to the nature and rigor of the evaluation process.
No referral is required to contact us and schedule an evaluation. You can reach out directly as a parent or caregiver. However, if your child’s pediatrician or school has already provided documentation of concerns, bringing that information to the appointment is very helpful.
There is no single test that can diagnose autism. A diagnosis is made by a qualified clinician based on a comprehensive review of behavioral history, direct clinical observation, caregiver interviews, and standardized assessment tools. Our clinicians integrate all of this information using established diagnostic criteria (DSM-5) to reach a clinical conclusion.
We’re happy to provide a second opinion or a re-evaluation if your child’s previous assessment is outdated, incomplete, or if you have concerns about the results. Please bring any prior reports or documentation to your appointment, this context helps us provide the most thorough evaluation possible.
Your evaluation report will include specific recommendations for next steps, which may include ABA therapy, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, social skills groups, and school accommodations. Our team will walk you through these recommendations during your feedback session and assist with referrals. Care Anywhere Psychiatry can also continue to support your child’s ongoing psychiatric needs within our practice.
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. While many children make remarkable developmental progress especially with early, appropriate support, autism does not simply disappear. A child who appears to “outgrow” certain behaviors may have developed coping strategies that can mask significant underlying challenges. A proper evaluation ensures your child receives appropriate support at every stage of development.
Yes. Our in-person autism evaluation service for children is currently available to patients in Nevada only. If you are located in another state, please visit our main services page, we may offer telehealth psychiatric services in your state.
Take the first step toward understanding your child’s unique needs. Our team is here to guide your family through every part of the evaluation process with expertise, warmth, and respect.
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