Autism Assessments for Ages 6+

Steps of the Assessment

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KBIT

The KBIT (Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test) is a quick test that measures two main areas of intelligence:

Verbal intelligence: This is about how well someone understands and uses words. It includes things like:

Vocabulary: Knowing the meaning of words.
Verbal reasoning: Making connections or solving problems using language.

Non-verbal intelligence: This measures how well someone can solve problems without using words. It includes:

Patterns and shapes: Figuring out puzzles or spotting the next item in a sequence.
Visual problem-solving: Using logic to solve problems just by looking at pictures.

Together, these scores give a general idea of how someone processes information, learns, and solves problems in everyday life.

ADOS-2

The ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition) is a tool used by professionals to help determine if someone has autism. It’s like a structured play and conversation session designed to observe specific behaviors.

Here’s how it works:

- Social skills: How someone interacts with others.
- Communication: How someone uses and understands language, both verbal and non-verbal.
- Play and imagination: How someone plays with toys or pretends.
- Repetitive behaviors: Things like repeating actions or being very focused on certain topics or objects.
- The professional uses a set of activities and prompts (like playing with toys, talking, or solving simple puzzles) to see how the person responds.
- It’s not a test you can "pass" or "fail." Instead, it helps the professional understand the person’s behaviors and how they compare to those typically seen in autism.
- It provides a structured way to observe behaviors that are important for diagnosing autism.
- It can be used for people of different ages and abilities, from young children to adults.

Think of the ADOS-2 as a guided session where the professional gathers clues about someone’s social and communication skills to better understand their needs and whether autism might be a factor.

CREYOS

The Creyos platform (formerly known as Cambridge Brain Sciences) is a digital tool that can help in assessing autism by providing quick, science-based tasks that measure thinking and behavior.

Here’s how it works and why it’s useful:

- It uses online games and questionnaires to measure important skills like attention, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving.
- These skills are often areas where people with autism may show differences compared to others.
- The platform includes behavioral assessments that ask about social interactions, communication, and repetitive behaviors, which are key areas in autism.
- It tracks responses and performance to identify patterns that could suggest traits of autism.
- For example, someone might have difficulty switching between tasks or show specific strengths in certain types of problem-solving.
- Convenience: The assessments can often be done at home or in a familiar setting, making it less stressful for the person being evaluated.
- Data-driven insights: It provides clear results that professionals can use to support a diagnosis or create a personalized plan for support.
- Complementary tool: Creyos doesn’t diagnose autism on its own but gives valuable information that works alongside other tools, like the ADOS-2 or interviews.
- Schools, clinics, and mental health professionals use Creyos to quickly gather insights about how someone thinks and behaves, helping them make informed decisions about further evaluation or support.

In simple terms, Creyos is like a set of smart, fun puzzles and questions that give professionals important clues about whether someone might have autism and what kind of help they may need.

Clinical Interview

A clinical interview for autism assessment is a conversation with a mental health professional to understand behaviors, communication, and daily life skills. It covers:

Developmental History: Milestones and family history.
Social and Communication Skills: Eye contact, conversations, and understanding emotions.
Behaviors and Interests: Repetitive actions, routines, and special interests.
Sensory Sensitivities: Reactions to sounds, textures, or lights.
Daily Life Skills: Independence and handling changes.

The professional also observes behaviors during the interview and may gather input from caregivers or teachers. This helps create a clear picture of the individual’s needs and whether autism might be a factor.

COST

Completely covered by Medicaid

For private pay clients: $1000 total ($250 for KBIT & CREYOS; $250 for ADOS2; $250 for each clinical interview)

For commercial insurance clients: $500 + insurance copays/deductibles ($250 for KBIT & CREYOS; $250 for ADOS2) - insurance sets rate for clinical interview with each provider