Psychological Testing & Developmental Evaluations
Developmental and autism evaluations for young children
I provide developmental evaluations for young children, including diagnostic assessment for autism, evaluation of developmental delays, and neuropsychological testing among other standardized measures, from toddlerhood through the early school years.
Who it's for
Families often come to me with questions about a child’s social, emotional, behavioral, or developmental functioning, looking for clarity about what they are seeing and what might help.
What an evaluation can help clarify
- Whether development is on track, and where there may be delays
- Relative strengths and vulnerabilities that underlie behavioral, social, or emotional struggles
- Diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, that may help explain difficulties and inform services and treatment decisions
The process
Early childhood is a period of incredibly dynamic developmental unfolding, and diagnostic assessment in this period requires careful, nuanced evaluation. The evaluation process typically unfolds over several meetings:
Time with parents
Time with you to understand your child’s history and your current concerns.
Sessions with your child
Direct sessions with your child to administer cognitive, psychoeducational, executive functioning, neuropsychological, and other normative assessments, including the ADOS-2, if warranted.
Feedback and a written report
A feedback meeting to share my impressions, diagnostic formulation, and recommendations, along with a comprehensive written report.
Specialist training
Assessment with very young children is its own discipline. I trained in early childhood diagnostic assessment at the Marcus Autism Center and the Yale Child Study Center and have been working in this specialized field for nearly fifteen years. A toddler can’t describe what they’re experiencing, and as development moves quickly at this age, distinguishing meaningful difference from ordinary variation takes a practiced eye.
If you have questions about your child’s development or are considering an evaluation, you’re welcome to reach out to discuss what the process would involve. Get in touch →