Pediatric Autism Evaluations Specialist in Orlando, FL

Pediatric autism evaluations involve a comprehensive, child-centered approach carried out by our experienced multidisciplinary team. Our evaluations are thoughtfully tailored to each child’s unique needs, focusing on empowering families with clear information, actionable insights, and personalized recommendations.

The evaluation process begins with an in-depth developmental history obtained from parents or caregivers, highlighting key aspects such as developmental milestones, speech and language progression, social engagement, behavioral patterns, and any specific concerns raised by families or healthcare providers. At WellChild, we prioritize family collaboration, as your insights and observations are essential to our understanding of your child’s overall development.

Our clinicians closely observe your child in a comfortable and supportive environment, carefully assessing social interaction skills, communication abilities, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. We employ evidence-based, standardized assessment tools to ensure thorough, consistent, and accurate diagnostic outcomes.

In addition to observing your child directly and conducting caregiver interviews, our pediatric autism evaluations often include assessments of cognitive abilities, adaptive behaviors, sensory processing, and language and communication skills. Our experienced speech-language pathologists evaluate your child’s expressive and receptive language, speech clarity, and social communication skills, while our occupational therapists assess motor coordination, sensory integration, play skills, and daily living activities.

Medical assessments may also be included to help rule out underlying medical or genetic conditions that could impact developmental progress. Depending on each child’s clinical presentation and family history, our specialists may recommend additional laboratory tests, genetic evaluations, or neurological consultations to ensure a comprehensive understanding of your child’s developmental profile.

Autism assessment is designed with your child’s unique developmental needs in mind. Our multidisciplinary team of experienced specialists works collaboratively to thoroughly evaluate every aspect of your child’s developmental profile.

Our evaluation process begins with a detailed intake conducted through parent or caregiver interviews. We take the time to listen and understand your concerns, carefully documenting your child’s developmental history, social interactions, communication skills, and behaviors. To further enrich our understanding, we also utilize standardized questionnaires and may request input from teachers, caregivers, or other professionals involved in your child’s daily life.

Following this, our clinical team conducts direct, comprehensive observations of your child in a nurturing, child-friendly environment. We use research-based assessment tools specifically developed for autism diagnosis, such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). These tools help our specialists objectively evaluate behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ensuring accurate diagnosis and differentiation from other developmental conditions.

Additionally, our specialists may recommend supplementary evaluations to rule out other medical or developmental issues. These assessments can include hearing tests to confirm communication abilities, cognitive testing to evaluate intellectual functioning, language assessments, and motor skills evaluations. By conducting these thorough evaluations, we ensure a precise understanding of your child’s unique developmental strengths and challenges.

If your child receives an ASD diagnosis, our specialists will provide a detailed understanding of your child’s current developmental level, along with personalized recommendations for evidence-based interventions, therapies, and support services.

Early indicators often involve challenges or delays in communication and social interaction. For example, a child may exhibit delayed speech development or lose previously acquired language skills. At WellChild Center For Development, we encourage caregivers to look closely for signs such as limited use of gestures like pointing or waving, minimal interest in social interactions, and limited or inconsistent eye contact.

Children who may benefit from an autism evaluation often have difficulty sustaining back-and-forth interactions and struggle to respond consistently to their name being called. Additionally, repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities can signal the need for screening and evaluation. These behaviors may include strict adherence to routines or rituals, repetitive motor movements such as hand-flapping or rocking, or intense preoccupations with particular interests or objects.

At our practice, we also carefully assess sensory sensitivities. Children needing evaluation may experience heightened distress from specific textures, sounds, or lights, or they might seek out excessive sensory input by persistently touching, tasting, or smelling items.

Another area we emphasize is imaginative play. Children on the autism spectrum commonly display limited pretend play compared to their peers, preferring repetitive actions with toys or lining up objects instead. Emotional regulation difficulties, such as extreme reactions or tantrums triggered by minor changes, also indicate the need for further evaluation.

At WellChild Center For Development, we believe that early assessment and personalized intervention can significantly enhance developmental outcomes, improve quality of life, and empower children and families to reach their fullest potential.

Autism evaluations can sometimes occur as early as 18 months, although developmental signs associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be visible even sooner. Our pediatricians and developmental specialists emphasize the value of early detection and intervention.

In line with guidelines from organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, our providers routinely screen children for autism-related indicators during wellness visits at 18 and 24 months. Additionally, at WellChild Center For Development, we are committed to addressing the unique concerns of each family. If parents or caregivers notice developmental differences or have concerns about communication, social interaction, or repetitive behaviors, we recommend discussing these promptly with our pediatric and developmental specialists.

In certain situations, particularly when there is heightened parental concern, family history of developmental conditions, or existing developmental delays, we offer evaluations even earlier than 18 months. Our comprehensive evaluation approach at WellChild Center For Development includes detailed clinician observations, structured play-based assessments, and in-depth parent interviews tailored to each child’s developmental stage.

Although diagnosing ASD before 18 months can sometimes be challenging due to normal developmental variability, our team is highly trained in recognizing early indicators and providing targeted recommendations and intervention strategies. Early interventions such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral support have been shown to significantly enhance developmental outcomes and the quality of life for children with autism.

At WellChild Center For Development, our goal is to partner with families to identify developmental needs early, providing personalized, supportive care designed to maximize each child’s potential. Early evaluation and intervention can shape a child’s developmental trajectory positively, making a meaningful difference in lifelong outcomes. Based in 626 N. Alafaya Trail, Suite 206-5A, Orlando, Florida 32828. We proudly serve families across the entire state of Florida through 100% virtual care. To learn more, contact us or request a virtual appointment online. We serve patients from Orlando FL, Bithlo FL, Oviedo FL, Ventura FL, Northeast Orlando FL, Conway FL, and across the entire state of Florida.