Autism Evaluations
If you are wondering whether your child, teen, or adult family member is autistic, getting the right evaluation can change everything. At the Center for Psychological and Educational Assessment, our pediatric psychologists provide comprehensive, individualized autism evaluations at three convenient
metro Atlanta locations: Atlanta, Marietta, and Cumming. We have been serving Georgia families since 2002.
What is Autism?
Children and adults on the autistic spectrum possess unique social and communication styles. While their language development may take a different path than typical and their speech might feature distinctive patterns or a formal, monotone voice, these traits contribute to their individuality. Social interactions can be challenging, as they may find it difficult to interpret others' emotions, engage in pretend play, or form friendships. Eye contact might be less frequent, reflecting their unique way of connecting with the world. Additionally, they often thrive on consistency and routine, and may have passionate interests in specific areas. In our metro Atlanta practice, our evaluations for Autism are comprehensive, assessing these diverse characteristics along with cognitive skills, adaptive functioning (everyday independence), sensory processing (responses to sound, touch, taste, movement), and academic performance (as relevant). Many of our clinicians are trained in the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - Second Edition) and the MIGDAS-2 (Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum), ensuring a thorough and sensitive assessment of autism spectrum disorder traits.
Signs That An Autism Evaluation
May Be Warranted
Parents and adults often contact us when they notice one or more of the following patterns. This list is not diagnostic, but these signs are common reasons families seek a professional evaluation.
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Difficulty reading social cues or understanding unspoken rules in conversation
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Unusual or intense interests that occupy a significant portion of the day
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Strong preference for routines; significant distress when plans change unexpectedly
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Differences in eye contact that feel qualitatively distinct from shyness
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Speech that is unusually formal, scripted, or monotone
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Sensory sensitivities: strong reactions to textures, sounds, lights, or certain foods
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History of being described as "quirky", "intense", or "hard to read"
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Adults who feel they have spent a lifetime masking or camouflaging in social situations
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Challenges forming or maintaining friendships appropriate to developmental level
Why Don't You Use The Same Assessments for Each Client?
Some practices use the same testing tools for each evaluation. Pre-set autism evaluation batteries assume a one-size-fits-all approach, but autism presents so differently across individuals that a fixed tool set will inevitably miss clinically significant information for some clients. It is also important to examine issues or diagnoses that often overlap. A child or adult presenting primarily with social communication challenges has different assessment needs than one whose chief concerns involve sensory sensitivities, anxiety, or adaptive functioning — and using the same instruments for both can obscure the full picture. Our pediatric psychologists recognize this by letting the referral concerns and parent/client observations drive instrument selection, ensuring the evaluation actually answers the questions that matter most for that individual. Our clinicians are trained in a wide range of techniques and assessment tools, allowing an individualized profile. This tailored approach is not only more clinically valid, but also more respectful of the client's unique profile and the family's lived experience. Read more about the signs of Autism.
Our autism evaluations are grounded in a neurodiversity-affirming philosophy. We view autism as a different neurological experience, not a deficit to be corrected. Our clinicians use language that is respectful, identity-conscious, and strengths-aware throughout the evaluation and in the written report. We recognize that many autistic individuals - particularly those who have spent years masking - arrive at an evaluation with a complex history, and we approach each person's profile with that context in mind. Our recommendations are designed to support the whole individual, not to make them appear more neurotypical.
What Locations Offer Autism Testing?
We provide autism evaluations across all three of our locations serving the Atlanta metro area:
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Atlanta: 772 Edgewood Ave NE, Unit 6, Atlanta, GA 30312
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Marietta: 108 Margaret Avenue, Marietta, GA 30060
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Cumming: 1455 Haw Creek Circle, Suite 601, Cumming, GA 30041
What Ages Do You Evaluate?
CPEA evaluates for autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan. We see:
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Young children from toddler age
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School-age children and adolescents
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Teens navigating IEPs, 504 plans, and the transition to adulthood
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College students seeking documentation for disability services
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Adults who were never evaluated as children, or who received a different diagnosis that no longer fits
What Do Your Evaluations Typically Include?
Our evaluations are not built from a standard checklist. Because autism presents differently across individuals, each evaluation is tailored to the specific referral concerns and observations that matter most for your family. A typical autism evaluation at CPEA may assess any combination of the following:
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Social communication and interaction patterns
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Language development and speech characteristics
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Repetitive behaviors, routines, and special interests
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Sensory processing responses to sound, touch, taste, and movement
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Cognitive skills and intellectual functioning
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Adaptive functioning (everyday independence skills)
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Academic performance, when relevant
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Co-occurring concerns such as anxiety, ADHD, or learning differences