Autism Navigator Menu of Diagnostic Services
Autism Navigator offers parents or legal guardians a menu of diagnostic services for children from 6 months to 5 years. Our approach uses telehealth, meaning that everything we offer is virtual or online with web or mobile apps.
First, schedule a free 30-minute Autism Navigator Conversation to help you decide if you want to purchase our diagnostic services. We offer a First Step Diagnostic Evaluation to start with the essential basics. Next, we can guide you on whether you need additional components to build a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation.
What is a First Step Diagnostic Evaluation?
A first step diagnostic evaluation is an initial process to gather information about a child’s developmental history, strengths and needs on developmental milestones, and testing on diagnostic features. This information is used to form clinical impressions, figure out what additional testing is needed and to create a roadmap for referral and intervention services. Starting with a first step evaluation can help guide you on additional diagnostic components needed for a comprehensive understanding of the diagnosis and to help you get started right away supporting your child’s learning in everyday activities.
Why have Autism Navigator evaluate and diagnose your child?
Autism Navigator was developed by the FSU Autism Institute with decades of experience researching, developing, and offering evidence-based tools and services. We have extensive experience working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families. Our focus is on engaging families in every step along the way, and giving you hope and help for your child to be successful. We contribute to research and have a highly trained clinical team who uses the most current evidence-based strategies. Beyond our evaluations, we offer a menu of online educational courses and virtual intervention services that use an unparalleled collection of videos from our research to help you support your child’s learning in everyday activities.
Will this Diagnosis be accepted for my child to be eligible for services in my region?
Our diagnostic evaluation may not determine eligibility in your region or be accepted by the agencies where you are seeking services. However, you can provide the detailed diagnostic information to share with your local diagnostic and care team to help them determine eligibility. Make sure to check with your local service provider or school team and with your insurance to find out if they will accept the components of our diagnostic evaluation and a diagnosis from our team.
What if I am concerned about labeling my child?
There are differing opinions on getting a diagnosis or a label for children. Some families worry that having a label will lead to their child being looked at differently by their teachers or peers or even picked on or bullied. While this can happen, children who do not have a formal diagnosis or label can also be picked on or bullied. A label or diagnosis can help your child’s care team understand your child’s strengths and needs and connect your child with services and supports. A diagnostic evaluation offers not only a label like language disorder, learning disability or autism spectrum disorder, but the testing should provide detailed information about your child’s strengths and weaknesses that are the basis to develop an educational or intervention plan tailored to your child. You can decide who you share your child’s diagnosis or label with, and whether it is included in your child’s records. We encourage you to inform your child’s care team of your child’s diagnosis because it can help them understand the learning strengths and challenges that your child has, and more importantly, it can help them design and tailor your child’s learning program and environment.
First Step Diagnostic Evaluation for Social Communication and Autism
After you complete the free 30-minute conversation, you can purchase the following package for a First Step Diagnostic Evaluation.
Cost: $500
- First Step Diagnostic Evaluation with the SORF—We have guidelines for you to video record a home observation. We will help you record the home observation and upload the video file for our team to review. We will use the video to complete a diagnostic evaluation of social communication skills and autism features using a new evidence-based tool—the Systematic Observation Rating of Features of Autism (SORF).
- Parent-Report Measures—We will ask you to fill out a few surveys or questionnaires about your child’s developmental skills, developmental history, and early signs of autism.
- First Step Diagnostic Report—We will provide a description of your child’s social communication skills and features of autism based on the home observation. The report will include clinical impressions, which may include a diagnosis if sufficient information has been gathered. We will also provide recommendations for referrals to additional diagnostic and intervention services.
- Diagnostic Feedback Conversation—We will schedule a 60-minute conversation to provide feedback on the diagnostic evaluation and discussion of next steps for referral, using our resources, and planning intervention or education programs.
- Autism Navigator How-To Guide for Families—The First Step Diagnostic Evaluation includes enrollment in our How-To Guide for Families online course, a $95 value for 12 hours of content. This course is designed for families to get started right away learning how to use intervention strategies in everyday activities to support your child’s learning and development. Learn More. Watch Preview.
Will my child get a diagnosis from the First Step Diagnostic Evaluation?
Your child will only get a diagnosis if sufficient information is gathered from our observation and parent-report measures that meets the diagnostic criteria for autism. The diagnostic features of autism unfold over the first few years of life. Younger children may show some features of autism so that autism cannot be ruled out but not yet show enough features to confirm a diagnosis. Even if your child does not get a diagnosis, this offers you the opportunity to get started right away in intervention. This may prevent associated features of autism, such as challenging behaviors and developmental delays in language, cognitive skills, and adaptive behavior. The First Step Diagnostic Evaluation report will provide detailed clinical impressions and recommendations on additional diagnostic and intervention services.
What is needed for a DSM-5 or ICD-10 / ICD-11 Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder?
The following 5 criteria are required to make a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder based on the DSM-5-TR:
- Persistent deficits in reciprocal social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts in 3 core diagnostic features.
- Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities shown in at least 2 of 4 core diagnostic features.
- Diagnostic features are present in early childhood based on current behaviors or history.
- Diagnostic features lead to significant impairment in everyday functioning in home, school, work, or community settings.
- Autism diagnostic features must not be better explained by an intellectual disability, global developmental delay, or language disorder, but can co-occur with these other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Learn more in our Research Brief about the diagnostic features and changes from DSM-IV to DSM-5.
To provide a DSM-5 diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder using these 5 criteria, the Autism Navigator team must complete the First Step Diagnostic Evaluation and 2 additional components—the DAYC-2 and the VABS-3. In some children, we may also need the PLS-5, ADI-R, or BOSA. The specific diagnostic criteria for the ICD-10-CM / ICD-11 are slightly different, but the same diagnostic components are needed.
Why would my child not get a diagnosis after a diagnostic evaluation?
We may not be able to confirm or rule out autism in some children. Younger children may show some features of autism so that autism cannot be ruled out but not yet show enough features to confirm a diagnosis. In our longitudinal research on hundreds of young children with autism, we have found that we cannot confirm or rule out autism in about 20% of children under 2 years of age. We need to follow these children over time and confirm or rule out the diagnosis within 1 to 2 years. In our research, we have found that about half end up with a diagnosis of autism and we are able to rule out autism in the other half. In children 3 to 5 years of age we have found that we cannot confirm or rule out autism in about 5 to 10% of children and need referrals to better understand associated features. Even if your child does not get a diagnosis, the diagnostic evaluation provides information to get started right away in intervention, which may prevent associated features of autism, such as challenging behaviors and developmental delays in language, cognitive skills, and adaptive behavior.
What if I am not satisfied with the diagnostic services I receive from Autism Navigator?
Some families will already have concerns about autism and others may not yet have concerns. Learning that your child has autism can be hard for families. Likely you will have some mixed feelings after your diagnostic evaluation. Our diagnostic process is designed to maximize your role by gathering information from you and observing your child with you in your natural environment so we can build consensus with you on your child’s strengths and challenges. We provide detailed clinical impressions and guide you on next steps for your child. We want you to be satisfied with your experience during our diagnostic services and feel that the information you receive is valuable to help your child. If you are not satisfied with our diagnostic services, we ask you to reach out to us to schedule a conversation at no charge so we can work with you to meet your satisfaction. If we are still unable to meet your satisfaction, we will reimburse you for the cost of your diagnostic service.
Additional Components to add to the First Step Diagnostic Evaluation for a Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation
After you purchase the First Step Diagnostic Evaluation, you can purchase additional components for a more comprehensive evaluation of developmental skills, receptive and expressive language, adaptive behavior, and features of autism. These components may be needed to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of Language Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder based on the DSM-5-TR or ICD-10-CM / ICD-11. These components are completed by telehealth observation and interview. REMEMBER: You cannot purchase additional components without purchasing the First Step Diagnostic Evaluation. When you purchase each additional component, we will provide a detailed comprehensive diagnostic report to summarize the additional components selected for the Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation that will be integrated with information in the report from the First Step Diagnostic Evaluation. The report will confirm or rule out language disorder and/or autism spectrum disorder, if sufficient information is gathered. The report will also make recommendations for referrals for further diagnostic testing and priorities for intervention services. NOTE: It is important that you determine whether your local service provider or school team and your insurance will accept the components of our diagnostic evaluation and a diagnosis from our team.
Developmental Assessment of Young Children, 2nd edition (DAYC-2)
Cost: $300
The DAYC-2 evaluates five domains — cognition, communication, adaptive behavior, social, emotional, and physical development, which are important areas to determine your child’s developmental level to determine eligibility for services. Information is gathered about a child’s abilities through observation, interview, and direct assessment, and scores are reported for each domain and overall general development based on normative data.
Preschool Language Scale, 5th edition (PLS-5)
Cost: $300
The PLS-5 is a comprehensive developmental language assessment with items that range from pre-verbal, interaction-based skills to emerging language to early literacy. Information is gathered from parent report and observation of pointing or verbal response to pictures and objects. Results are reported for auditory comprehension and expressive communication, and total language using standard scores, growth scores, percentile ranks, and language age equivalents based on normative data for children from birth to 8 years of age.
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale | 3rd editions (VABS-3)
Cost: $300
The VABS-3 is the leading instrument to measure adaptive behavior which is essential for supporting the diagnosis of intellectual and developmental disabilities, ASD, and ADHD. The VABS-3 measures adaptive behavior in 4 subdomains: 1) Communication — Receptive, expressive, and written communication skills; 2) Daily Living Skills — Personal, domestic, and community living skills; 3) Socialization — Interpersonal relationships, play and leisure, and coping skills; and 4) Motor Skills — Gross and fine motor skills. It is administered as a semi-structured interview and provides standard scores and percentiles for each domain and an adaptive behavior composite. The VABS-3 not only aids in diagnosis but provides valuable information for developing educational and treatment plans.
Childhood Autism Rating Scale, 2nd Edition (CARS®2)
Cost: $300
The CARS-2 consists of a 15-item rating scale completed by the clinician based on direct observation to help identify children with autism and determine symptom severity through quantifiable ratings. It has normative data on children 2 years of age and older, reports cutoff scores, standard scores, and percentiles, and distinguishes between mild to-moderate and severe autism. It should not be used alone for a diagnosis and is based on previous editions of the DSM (DSM-III and DSM-IV).
Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R)
Cost: $500
The ADI-R is a standardized interview that is used for diagnosing autism, planning treatment, and distinguishing autism from other developmental disorders. It provides categorical results for three domains: Language/Communication, Reciprocal Social Interactions, and Repetitive Behaviors/Interests.
Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA)
Cost: $500
The BOSA is a telehealth assessment for autism that provides a social context with standardized materials and activities that can be video recorded remotely. Then the video sample can be coded by clinicians trained in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule to help to inform a diagnosis of autism.