Are you worried your son or daughter may have autism?
Autism awareness is at an all-time high, widely discussed by the medical community, media outlets, concerned parents, and society in general. While autism may appear to be more widespread today than decades ago, experts believe the increase in diagnoses is due to greater awareness of autism and its signs and symptoms.
At Therapy Works of Nebraska we provide a bi-weekly ASD DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC to assist parents and guardians in finding answers. Not all children tested have a positive diagnosis, but we can help you with treatment options for the symptoms or behaviors that are leading to your concern.
What is the ASD Diagnostic Clinic?
Meet with a multi-disciplenary team of providers to receive a comprehensive and thorough Autism assessment. This collaborative approach provides a streamlined diagnostic process to access early intervention services.
What can I expect?
The assessment takes place over the course of two weeks. Week one, your child will meet with the diagnostic team and be evaluated for sensory processing, language, emotional regulation, and executive functioning. We expect this appointment to last approximately 3 hours. After the first week, you will receive the next step from the Behavioral Psychologist. The date and duration of the second appointment will be determined by the week one results and the age of your child.
Who Qualifies?
Children between the ages of 2 to 15. Most insurance coverage requires that the child has not had an OT, speech, or developmental assessment by a healthcare professional in the last 12 months.
What is ASD?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurobehavioral disorder with four distinct autism diagnoses, all, enveloping a spectrum of symptoms and impairments that range in severity. Autism is characterized by difficulty in communicating and interacting with others, and obsessive or repetitive behavior. Depending on how a child is communicating and interacting, autism diagnoses can start as young as two years old. It's also not uncommon for adults to seek diagnosis if they notice symptoms in themselves or their children.
A licensed clinician can help with an evaluation and assist with providing your child with strategies to best manage the symptoms and embrace the strengths that autism can provide.
We recommend speaking with our office if you’ve noticed any of the following behavioral trends in your child:
- Inability to maintain eye contact, or failure to respond when spoken to or called by name
- Rigid rules or routines
- Isolation or avoiding social interaction
- Repetitive or obsessive behavior, such as lining up objects or only performing tasks in a particular order
- Involuntary or excessive behaviors such as blinking, rocking, hand flapping, or finger flicking
A diagnosis of autism can help your child find solutions to symptoms that are interfering with their daily life. Autism can make it difficult for them to interact socially, both with verbal and nonverbal communication. Trouble making eye contact or involuntary noises can also cause problems at home, at school, or with peers.
Autism can make it difficult for your child to make or maintain friendships, or to get along with family members. When they mature, it can be harder for them to have intimate relationships. They may also develop repetitive, obsessive, or ritualistic behaviors that interfere with their daily life.
Please contact us today if you would like to start the process and register for the ASD Diagnostic Clinic.