Child Autism Testing In White Bear Lake, MN

NOT KNOWING IF YOUR CHILD HAS AUTISM IS STRESSFUL

Watching your child struggle without understanding why or how to help can feel overwhelming. You may have tried countless strategies—interventions, reward charts, and parenting techniques—only to remain puzzled by their behaviors. Now, you might be wondering: are these challenges just part of growing up, or could something more be at play?

Do any of the following sound like your child?

  • Your child finds social conversations and maintaining friendships challenging, as they navigate interactions in their own unique way.

  • Your child prefers clear, structured rules and may feel more comfortable when routines are consistent.

  • Your child has deep, intense interests that they are passionate about, often exploring topics in great detail.

  • Your child tends to take things literally, focusing on precise meanings rather than abstract or figurative language.

  • Your child may be more sensitive to certain tastes, textures, sounds, or smells, which can feel overwhelming at times.

  • Your child may experience distress when faced with unexpected changes, as predictability and routine provide a sense of security.

If so, you’re not alone—and We’re here to help.

IMAGINE HAVING Answers THAT HELP YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT

An accurate autism diagnosis can provide invaluable insight into your child, empowering both of you to advocate for their needs. Through a comprehensive autism evaluation, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how your child learns, processes information, and experiences the world around them—including their sensory and communication needs. With this clarity, you can honor and celebrate what makes them unique, and move forward with confidence and support.

HOW IT WORKS

What Happens During Autism Testing?

Step 1: Intake (1 to 2 hours)

We will meet virtually so your psychologist can learn background information and current concerns. There is nothing you need to do to prepare for the intake, just come as you are! We will use the information from the intake session to develop an individualized testing plan.

Step 2: Testing (3 to 5 hours)

An in-person testing appointment will occur about 1 week after the intake. Your child will engage in a variety of tasks to help us learn more specific information about them. The testing appointment is sometimes broken into multiple days.

Step 3: Feedback (1 to 2 hours)

The feedback appointment occurs about 2 weeks after the testing appointment. You will have a copy of the evaluation report and your psychologist will go over the results of the testing, including any potential diagnosis, discuss specific recommendations and next steps, and answer any questions you have. You will leave this appointment with clarity and confidence about what do to next.

FAQs About Child Autism Testing

  • If your child is experiencing challenges with social interactions, sensory sensitivities, self-regulation, or behavioral patterns that affect their home or school life, a comprehensive autism evaluation can help provide clarity. It can help determine whether your child is autistic and offer valuable insights into their unique strengths, challenges, and ways of engaging with the world around them. Understanding your child more deeply empowers you to better support their needs at home and helps both you and your child advocate for what they need to thrive in other environments.

  • White Bear Psychological Services provides autism evaluations for all ages birth through adult.

  • A neurodiversity-affirming autism evaluation celebrates and respects the unique ways your child's brain processes and interacts with the world. Instead of focusing on deficits, this approach seeks to understand your child's individual strengths, challenges, and needs. It takes a holistic perspective, considering your child's social, sensory, cognitive, and emotional experiences. The goal is to provide meaningful insights and strategies that nurture your child’s growth, well-being, and confidence, helping them thrive in daily life while fostering their inclusion and acceptance in all environments.

  • The initial intake interview is usually conducted with the parent(s) alone, but it can sometimes be beneficial for older children to be involved as well. During the testing session, your child will participate in a variety of activities with the psychologist. These activities are designed to be brief, engaging, and enjoyable for most children! For younger children, parents will be present throughout the session and may even participate in some tasks. For school-age children, most of the testing will be done with the psychologist, but your child can take breaks with you whenever they need.

  • Once the autism evaluation is complete, the results will be compiled into a comprehensive written report that provides a thorough understanding of the assessment findings, diagnostic impressions, and tailored recommendations for supporting your child at home, school, work, and in the community. During the feedback session, we will go through the report together, highlight key insights, discuss specific recommendations, and address any questions you may have. The autism assessment will offer valuable insights into your child’s social interactions, emotions, behaviors, and cognitive processes, serving as a resource to help you, your child’s school, and other support providers create an affirming environment where your child can thrive and fully express their authentic self.