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Evaluation for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Dr. Cooley is on the Board of Directors of The Learning Center, a charter school for children with autism.
Autism spectrum disorder is a relatively new term referring to children and adults who exhibit varying degrees of autistic-like behaviors. Depending on the numbers, severity, and frequency of these behaviors, individuals may function at the lower or higher end of this spectrum. Some individuals on the “high end” used to be labeled Asperger Syndrome. This diagnostic term is no longer used. Autistic-like behaviors can include:
- Speech delay
- Communication and social interaction difficulties
- Repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior
- Qualitative differences in facial expression, eye contact, and tone of voice
- Auditory, visual, or tactile hypersensitivity
- Unusual preoccupations and/or excessive obsession with objects or topics of interest
- Lack of interest in playing with other children, or in adults, socializing
- Difficulty relating to others, particularly same-age peers
- Insistence on sameness and resistance to changes
- Gross and/or fine motor skills weaknesses
- Difficulty reading nonverbal cues from others
- Concrete, literal thinking and interpretation
- Anxiety, depression, “meltdowns” when frustrated
Evaluation for child
Children as young as 18 months can be evaluated for a risk of ASD.
An evaluation consists of:
- Observation/interaction with child
- Developmental/behavioral history from parent
- Completion of norm-based rating scales by parents that are scored to predict the likelihood of an ASD diagnosis. These will be sent to parents via email or a link. Results will be sent back to Dr. Cooley. Evaluation will also assess other, or additional diagnoses that can occur with ASD. (ADHD is common).
- One hour in-office consultation with parents and child to obtain developmental/behavioral history and observation/interaction with child.
- Evaluation results in written report with one or more diagnosis and recommendations for interventions and resources. The report can be used to request an IEP (Individual Educational Plan) be developed by the public school district to provide special education. A diagnosis of ASD also requires all insurance plans in Florida to cover interventions. Finally, a diagnosis enables family to be eligible for one of the Florida scholarship funds below to be used for private school tuition. A diagnosis also makes a child eligible for ABA therapy of appropriate.
- Fees begin at $550 and depend on the child’s age, appropriate assessments and report. Dr. Cooley can advise you of the fee after speaking with you. Since Florida requires all insurance companies to reimburse services with a diagnosis of ASD, you may submit an evaluation with my diagnosis of ASD to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
Family Empowerment Scholarships for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-US) Formerly Gardiner ADHD qualifies under Other Health Impaired
This scholarship pays up to $10,000 for students with disabilities. Monies fund tuition, therapies, supplies, tutoring, homeschooling.
https://www.stepupforstudents.org/for-parents/special-needs/how-the-scholarship-works/
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO)
This scholarship pays up to $7,700 towards private school tuition for any student.
https://go.stepupforstudents.org/2023-24-il
Palm Beach County Private Schools
http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/information/privateschooldirectory/DownloadExcelFile.aspx
Transportation scholarships
https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/transportation-scholarships/
Hope Scholarship – Bullied, harassed, abused students https://www.stepupforstudents.org/for-parents/hope/how-the-scholarship-works/
Tax Credit Scholarships Income based Avg. $7,000 Also eligible, siblings of students receiving Family Empowerment Scholarship, military* and law enforcement* *Not income based
https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/scholarships-for-private-school/
Evaluation for adult
An adult evaluation consists of a lengthy diagnostic interview with the individual. A family member familiar with the individual’s childhood years can be helpful. This person can be interviewed in person or phone. Rating scales for ASD completed online prior to the consultation provide scores that predict the likelihood of an ASD diagnosis. A report is produced with a diagnosis and recommendations.
Fees
Fees for these evaluations depend on several factors. These include an individual’s age, severity of symptoms, time spent on reviewing of records, interviews, observations, testing (if necessary for school), test supplies, scoring and interpretation of data, and report writing. I can provide an estimate of a fee after speaking with you on the phone.