Evaluation recommended
Your responses suggest your child may benefit from a professional autism evaluation. We can help you schedule next steps.
Request an evaluation
Free Screener & Understanding Autism
Answers your family can act on - when starting their autism journey.
Families begin the ASD diagnostic process with an evaluation performed by a independent qualified clinician who learns about their child’s development, strengths, and areas of concern. Through parent interviews, questionnaires, and observation of the child’s skills and behaviors, families receive a clearer understanding of their child and guidance on helpful next steps. Whether that next step is therapy with us or somewhere else, you’ll leave with clarity.
- Learning more about autism
- Understand autism and your recent diagnosis
- Take a free screener test (CAST)
If you are here
You're probably noticing one or more of these.
Most parents arrive on this page because something specific is on their mind. Below are the four most common reasons families come to Clementine after a diagnostic evaluation. If your child shows signs in any of these areas, an independent evaluation is a reasonable first step before beginning ABA therapy.
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- Words came late, came and went, or have not come yet.
- Communication often happens through pointing, pulling, or behavior more than language.
- Back-and-forth conversation feels one sided, even with familiar people.
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- Limited eye contact, or eye contact that feels different from peers.
- Difficulty joining play, sharing interests, or reading emotions in others.
- Strong preference for parallel play or solo activities over group play.
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- Hand flapping, spinning, rocking, lining up objects, or other repeated motions.
- Big distress when routines change, transitions happen, or expectations shift.
- Intense focus on specific topics, objects, or activities.
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- Overreaction or underreaction to sounds, textures, lights, or smells.
- Seeking specific sensory input (deep pressure, spinning, mouthing objects).
- Mealtimes, clothing, haircuts, or environments become recurring battlegrounds.
Screening tool
Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST)
Unsure if your child needs an evaluation? This optional 37-question screener helps families decide if a professional assessment is recommended.
This is a preliminary screening tool, not a medical diagnosis.
Ready when you are
Answer 37 short Yes / No questions about your child. Most parents finish in about four minutes.
- Your answers stay on this page — nothing is saved or sent.
- Your score points to a next step — not a diagnosis.
- If you're unsure on a question, answer for the typical day.
What the evaluation actually looks like
Your child will be playing, not being tested.
The most common worry we hear from parents is “what will the evaluation actually do to my child?” The honest answer: nothing scary. A modern autism evaluation looks more like guided play than a clinical assessment. Here’s what your child will experience.
The evaluation room
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They walk into a regular room with toys
Many clinicians will observe in a comfortable setting or via telehealth- depending on what fits your child - with developmentally appropriate toys, puzzles, books, and play materials laid out.
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A clinician engages them through play
Your child's evaluating clinician spends real time playing with your child. They use validated, play-based assessment tools (like the ADOS-2) that are specifically designed to look like natural social interaction. Most children describe it as fun.
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You're in the room too - and you'll be talking
Parents are usually a part of the evaluation, though the exact format depends on the child's age and the clinician's assessment process. The clinician will interview you about developmental history, daily routines, and what you've been noticing. Your insights are evidence.
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Standardized tools, plain-language explanations
Behind the play, your clinician is running formal assessments - Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, developmental questionnaires, ADOS-2 - and capturing data. You'll see the tools mentioned in the final report, but your child won't experience any of it as a test.
What you'll leave with
Concrete, usable documents - not a vague impression.
The point of an evaluation is to give your family something you can act on. After receiving an independent autism diagnosis, Clementine can help we will get you started so that therapy can begin within 3-4 weeks.
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A written diagnostic report
A comprehensive clinical document signed by your independent evaluating clinician - diagnosis (when applicable), assessment scores, behavioral observations, and developmental history. We then help summarize this report for non-clinical readers.
For: Parents -
DSM-5 documentation, IEP/504 ready
The exact language and codes schools need to open an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan (when applicable). Schools often use this report when determining eligibility for special education services. We help parents understand the IEP process and explain what documentation the school may request to help in navigating the process.
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Insurance-ready ICD codes
A report from your independent clinician with the diagnosis (when applicable), ICD-10 code, and supporting clinical documentation commonly required by insurance providers when families pursue recommended services such as ABA. We then help streamline the insurance process saving you time and reducing the paperwork.
For: Insurance -
A feedback session with your clinician
A scheduled conversation where your independent evaluating clinician walks you through the report, answers questions, and helps you understand what each section means for your child.
For: Family -
Treatment recommendations
Clear next steps - after you receive your diagnostic report from an independent clinician, you can begin services with Clementine or another ABA provider. Your ABA provider will conduct its own assessment to recommend the appropriate number of therapy hours, identify key skill areas to target, and develop a personalized treatment plan, and timing guidance.
For: Care planning
The full process
From your first call to your final report, the typical timeline for an autism diagnostic evaluation.
The autism diagnostic evaluation is conducted by an independent licensed clinician to determine whether your child meets the criteria for autism spectrum disorder, and provide clear recommendations for next steps. Once you receive the diagnosis, Clementine can help you navigate the process so your child can typically begin therapy within 3-4 weeks.
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Schedule evaluation
Most families can schedule an appointment for an independent diagnostic evaluation within a few weeks, though availability varies by provider and location; while other providers may have longer wait times.
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Evaluation appointment
The evaluation appointment itself runs 2 to 6 hours total, and can happen in a single sitting or be split across two or three shorter appointments depending on your child’s needs. Your child's evaluating clinician conducts the assessment using validated tools (ADOS-2, Vineland, developmental interviews).
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Report delivery
After the appointment, the full diagnostic report is usually ready within 2-4 weeks after the evaluation by your independent clinician, and the feedback session is often held after it is received.
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Feedback session
You receive the full diagnostic packet and schedule a conversation with your independent evaluating diagnostician to walk through your full report and understand what your diagnosis means. From there you can pursue ABA therapy or other recommended services - with or without Clementine.
We're here and ready to serve you
Already have an autism diagnosis, or simply want to learn more about your child's needs? Lets talk about how we can help.
Insurance
We accept many insurance plans.
Insurance is our job, not yours - our team can help get you started.
FAQ
Questions families ask about evaluations.
The questions we hear most often from parents who are considering whether - and when - to pursue an evaluation. Have a question we didn’t answer? The team is one call away.
Before you decide
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How do I know if my child needs an evaluation?
Honestly, you don’t have to know for sure. If something is consistently on your mind - speech, behavior, social interaction, sensory experiences, or the comparison to other kids the same age - that is enough to justify a phone call to an independent diagnostician. Unsure if your child needs an evaluation? Take our free CAST screener, which helps families decide if a professional diagnosis is recommended.
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What if my child's pediatrician says 'wait and see'?
Pediatricians sometimes recommend waiting because typical development has a wide range. That’s often the right call. But if you’re noticing patterns that don’t seem to be resolving, or you feel like something’s being missed, you don’t have to wait for the next pediatrician visit to get clarity. An evaluation can rule things in or out.
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Will the evaluation feel scary or traumatic for my child?
Modern autism evaluations are designed to look like play. Your child won’t experience any needles, scans, or formal tests. The diagnostician engages them through age-appropriate toys and activities. Most children leave the evaluation having had a pleasant time. If your child has had stressful clinical experiences before, let your diagnostician know beforehand so they can adjust pacing and can split the evaluation across shorter appointments.
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What if it turns out my child is not autistic?
You still leave with valuable information. The evaluation will surface developmental insights, ruled-out concerns, and any referrals to other specialists if appropriate. A non-autism finding is a real answer, not a wasted appointment.
Logistics and timing
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How long does the actual evaluation take?
The evaluation appointment itself runs 2 to 6 hours total, and can happen in a single sitting or be split across two or three shorter appointments depending on your child’s needs. After the appointment, the diagnostic report is usually ready within 2-4 weeks after the evaluation, and the feedback session is often held when the report is ready, or within a few days afterward.
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Can the evaluation be done via telehealth?
Yes, many autism evaluations can be completed via telehealth, but it depends on the child’s age, symptoms, the clinician’s judgment, and state regulations.
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What ages can be evaluated?
An autism diagnostic evaluation is for children typically from 18 months through their teenage years. Different age ranges use different assessment tools - your clinician will use the most appropriate validated instrument for your child’s age.
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How fast can we get on the schedule?
Appointment availability varies by clinician and location. Many independent diagnostic evaluation providers offer appointments within a few weeks, usually 2-6 weeks, while other providers may have longer wait times.
After the evaluation
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What happens if my child is diagnosed?
Schedule a conversation with your independent evaluating diagnostician to walk through your report and understand what your diagnosis means. From there you can pursue in-home ABA, center-based ABA, school-based ABA, or other recommended services - with or without Clementine.
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Will I need to share the report with my child's school?
Only if you choose to. The report belongs to your family. Most parents share it with their child’s school to open an IEP or 504 plan, but that decision is entirely yours. We help parents understand the IEP process and explain what documentation the school may request to help in navigating the process.
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Can we re-evaluate later?
Yes. Children develop, and sometimes a fuller picture emerges with time. Ask your diagnostician to conduct follow-up evaluations or progress assessments as your child grows. If your child’s needs change, your diagnostician can also help you find specialists who go deeper in specific areas.
Have a question we didn't cover?
A short phone call with the Clementine team is the fastest way to get a specific answer about your child's situation.