Autism Test for Kids
Unlock insights into your child or teen’s unique world with comprehensive autism testing for kids and adolescents in Texas, laying the groundwork for tailored strategies that support their journey.
Launch Your Child’s Healing Journey in Three Simple Steps
1. Get in Touch
Get started with Mind Works by filling out our simple contact form online or giving us a call.
2. Complete Intake Process
Submit all required paperwork so we can better understand your child’s history and needs.
3. Begin Testing
Meet with a Mind Works provider who will administer any relevant assessments.
Launch Your Child’s Healing Journey in Three Simple Steps
1. Get in Touch
Get started with Mind Works by filling out our simple contact form online or giving us a call.
2. Complete Intake Process
Submit all required paperwork so we can better understand your child’s history and needs.
3. Begin Testing
Meet with a Mind Works provider who will administer any relevant assessments.
Feeling Overwhelmed by Parenting Challenges?
Let’s Tackle This Together.
Parenting can be full of pressures, uncertainties, and challenges. Together, we’ll create a supportive plan tailored to your child’s needs, ensuring you both are set up for success.
Seek Answers and Navigate Your Child’s Autism With Compassionate Expertise
If you’re noticing signs in your child’s behavior that may suggest autism spectrum disorder (ASD), such as delayed language development, challenges with social interaction, eye contact, or social communication, repetitive behaviors, or sensory sensitivities as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-5), pursuing an evaluation and autism test for kids, young children, or teens at Mind Works is a critical first step.
Our experienced psychologists specialize in autism screening and diagnosing autism, offering deep insights into your child’s unique strengths and areas for growth. This evaluation is not just about labeling; it’s about using our screening and diagnostic tools, along with professional care, to understand your child’s world, paving the way for tailored support and interventions that resonate with their specific needs.
Receiving a formal diagnosis of autism from a healthcare professional opens the door to a wealth of resources, referrals, and specialized treatment plans designed to support your child’s development in communication, social skills, and adaptive behaviors across an array of developmental disorders. At Mind Works, we believe in empowering family members with knowledge and strategies, connecting you with the right support systems to navigate this journey. If our assessments and diagnostic tools reveal that your child does not meet the criteria for autism, then our team will still work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan that fosters your child’s abilities while exploring further evaluation and even more personalized care.
When to Get Help for Your Child
Knowing when to talk to a professional about the signs of autism can be challenging, and it is a big step in supporting development in early childhood or even in teenagers. Noticing signs like limited eye contact and language development, disinterest in social activities, hyperfixations, or hypersensitivity to external stimuli can be a reason to talk to a trained professional about autism research.
Learning about early signs of autism from a healthcare provider or primary care clinician can also empower families to learn about autism while reaching out to more specialized caregivers. These healthcare providers may also recognize potential signs of developmental impairments, and discussing these signs with them can also be important in creating a plan for further assessment.
There are also major developmental milestones in young children, with a modified checklist for autism in toddlers (m-chat-r) available that can help assess the risk of autism spectrum disorder in children from around 18 months to two years old.
However, it is never “too early” to talk to a professional or screener about signs of autism, ADHD, or any developmental disorder. Whether exploring signs of autistic children or pursuing a diagnosis, the professionals at Mind Works can help families create a plan for healthy and fulfilling development.
How Autism Testing Helps Your Child Thrive at Home, School, and Play
Embark on a path of discovery with Mind Works’ autism testing, a crucial first step for parents seeking insights into their child’s unique abilities and challenges. This comprehensive evaluation provides the essential information you need to make informed decisions about your child’s care and support, paving the way for a tailored approach that celebrates their individuality and fosters their growth
Clear Diagnosis
With a diagnosis, you can finally move on from the investigative stage. Autism testing gives you and your child a clear understanding of their diagnosis, demystifying behaviors and challenges and setting the stage for targeted support.
Individualized Support Plans
With the insights gained from testing, you can collaborate with educators and therapists to create individualized education and treatment plans that cater specifically to your child’s needs and strengths.
Access to Resources
A confirmed diagnosis opens doors to a wide range of resources, therapies, and community support systems designed specifically for individuals with autism, enhancing their development and well-being.
Enhanced Understanding
Testing provides a comprehensive overview of your child’s abilities, including their cognitive, social, and emotional strengths, helping you and others better understand and connect with your child.
Early Intervention Opportunities
Early detection through professional autism testing can lead to earlier interventions, which are critical in supporting optimal development and improving long-term outcomes for children with autism.
Empowerment for Families
Armed with knowledge and understanding from the testing process, families feel more empowered to advocate for their child’s needs and to make informed decisions about their care and education.
How Autism Testing Helps Your Child Thrive at Home, School, and Play
Embark on a path of discovery with Mind Works’ autism testing, a crucial first step for parents seeking insights into their child’s unique abilities and challenges. This comprehensive evaluation provides the essential information you need to make informed decisions about your child’s care and support, paving the way for a tailored approach that celebrates their individuality and fosters their growth.
Mind Works also works with both individuals and families to provide education and caring support. Family members of autistic people have a crucial role in providing care and support at home, and a personalized plan with Mind Works, combined with education for family members and caregivers, ensures that families can be actively involved in reaching new milestones, advocating for needs and programs, and understanding the challenges and triumphs of living with ASD.
Clear Diagnosis
With a diagnosis, you can finally move on from the investigative stage. Autism testing gives you and your child a clear understanding of their diagnosis, demystifying behaviors and challenges, and setting the stage for targeted support.
Individualized Support Plans
With the insights gained from testing, you can collaborate with educators and therapists to create individualized education and treatment plans that cater specifically to your child’s needs and strengths.
Access to Resources
A confirmed diagnosis opens doors to a wide range of resources, therapies, and community support systems designed specifically for individuals with autism, enhancing their development and well-being.
Enhanced Understanding
Testing provides a comprehensive overview of your child’s abilities, including their cognitive, social, and emotional strengths, helping you and others better understand and connect with your child.
Early Intervention Opportunities
Detection through professional autism testing can lead to earlier interventions, which are critical in supporting optimal development and improving long-term outcomes for children with autism.
Empowerment for Families
Armed with knowledge and understanding from the testing process, families feel more empowered to advocate for their child’s needs and to make informed decisions about their care and education.
Begin Your Child’s Success Story
Ready to get started or have more questions for our team before moving forward? Give us a call or fill out a simple form online to start the journey toward your child’s thriving future.
Why Mind Works?
Specialized Expertise
Our team is specially trained and qualified to treat behavioral health concerns in children and teens, from ages 3 to 17. Every provider is trained by our registered play therapist supervisor.
Comprehensive Treatment Options
We deliver the full spectrum of mental health services for children, including assessments, evidence-based therapy, medication management, and parental guidance.
Collaborative Approach
Our integrated team comes together to provide the absolute best care for your child, sharing key information and working cooperatively to establish a comprehensive treatment plan.
Evidence-Based Care
Our team uses a range of evidence-based therapeutic techniques, including play therapy for children 3-12, CBT, DBT, EMDR, and Solutions-Focused Therapy.
What Drives Our Team?
We are dedicated to the wellness of children and our future. With a wealth of experience and knowledge, we create not just a safe environment for children and families, addressing new challenges and reaching new milestones, but we also facilitate a culture that goes beyond accreditation. From highly trained professionals to personal dedication and commitment from each of our staff, and a focus on each child beyond our walls, we are dedicated to children as well as their communities to set each child up to use their strengths.
Our staff comes from all walks of life, and uses our own experiences and expertise to celebrate each child and their own history while setting goals for the future. Being able to blend professional care with compassion makes Mind Works effective for not just supporting children and their developmental goals, but creating a haven for families and a culture that celebrates each child in their journey.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Autism testing provides a comprehensive evaluation to accurately diagnose your child and uncover their unique strengths and challenges, paving the way for personalized support and interventions. From initial homework and discovery to in-depth testing and analysis, Mind Works tailors the autism assessment process to each child, ensuring a thorough understanding of their developmental, cognitive, and social needs.
Following autism testing, Mind Works develops a detailed plan of action, including recommendations for therapy, educational accommodations, and strategies to enhance social and communication skills, all tailored to your child’s specific profile.
Identifying potential signs of autism as early as possible can empower families to explore options and best support their child. Some early signs include:
- Limited language development or other means of communication
- Repetitive phrases without meaning
- Limited eye contact or smiling
- Does not show interest in playing with other children or adults
- Becomes upset at the disruption to perceived or established routines
- Repetitive movements
- Intense reactions to external stimuli, such as loud sounds, bright lights, or textures
Toddlers may also experience delays in reaching regular developmental milestones or lose skills they had once practiced, especially in social development or language. However, every child is different, and noticing some of these signs is a reason to contact a professional to learn more about autism and schedule a professional assessment rather than attempting to diagnose at home.
Yes, our testing provides the necessary documentation and insights to advocate for IEPs or 504 plans, ensuring your child receives the educational accommodations they need to thrive academically.
Our autism testing for children is a process. First, we begin by identifying those in a child’s life who may have insight into potential behaviors or signs of autism, such as parents and caregivers. Parents are given a comprehensive questionnaire to complete, allowing them to communicate observations and challenges while also having an opportunity to more openly discuss personal experiences and narratives.
Depending on the needs and challenges outlined, we then personalize an assessment to target specific areas and needs in a child to learn more about their developmental strengths and challenges. These range from behavioral, emotional, and cognitive screening to memory and problem-solving to learn more about a child and their world.
Based on these tests, Mind Works works with families to create a personalized growth plan, both for those with a formal diagnosis of autism or those with other mental health or developmental challenges. Each plan is personalized to address the needs of the child, develop strategies with family members and caregivers, and set goals and milestones for developmental progress.
Yes, our assessments can be designed to identify not only autism but also any co-occurring conditions, ensuring a holistic understanding of your child’s needs for comprehensive support. We currently provide developmental, educational, and psychological assessments, allowing us to test for a wide range of issues and concerns.
During a screening, a professional will review a questionnaire and conduct interviews while observing behavioral, social, and communication skills and patterns. These are often supported by cognitive assessments to explore not just how a child or teen thinks, but how they approach and interact with their world. Reviewing information in the questionnaire provided by the parents can personalize these assessments and provide direction on the challenges of each child while screening for potential signs of autism.
Parents are actively involved, from providing initial information and insights to participating in feedback sessions where results and recommendations are discussed. We will also loop in any other relevant stakeholder or outside providers, such as your child’s pediatrician, during the information gathering phase and when presenting our analysis and recommendations.
An autism assessment is important in creating an effective plan, but there are things that parents and caregivers can do while waiting for an official assessment or diagnosis.
First, contacting Early Intervention services can be instrumental in learning at-home practices and strategies to address needs. A child does not need an autism diagnosis to benefit from these services; just evidence of any developmental delays, so families can be proactive about speech, motor, or developmental needs.
Staying vocal and engaged with a child, such as narrating actions or reinforcing what words they do use, can also help develop these skills. Structured, small routines can also help a child process and understand the world around them, adding consistency to their day.
Recording potential signs and observations with your child can also be instrumental in personalizing a plan for your child. Regularly recorded observations shared with a professional can be paramount in addressing specific challenges and targeting specific milestones that can best support your child’s development.
Success Stories
“Highly recommend Mind Works. I am a clinician in Illinois and needed to find a clinic in Texas that could provide services to my client that was moving. This is no easy feat to do across the United States. Mind Works was fabulous to work with from the very beginning. Coordination of care was 5 stars and my “previous” client is very happy with their new counselor. Thank you very much for going above and beyond during this difficult time so many other counseling offices are facing. I appreciate all the help and coordination you offered my client!”
“I have known the owners for over 8 years and have taken a family member to Mind Works. Therefore, I can speak of them both personally and professionally. There truly is no better place for this service, especially for children and young adults. On the personal level, I know how much they truly care about everyone they meet. On a professional level, the entire staff is a reflection of the dedication to helping others and competence that gets results that the owners exude. During the incredibly trying time of this pandemic and the fear and anxiety it has caused many people, we are incredibly blessed to have Mind Works available to support.”
“The front desk staff is kind and courteous and helped me find the right therapist for my child. When I met my therapist she was kind and explained the process to me. I love that she included me in the play therapy process and helped me understand how to help my child. Thankful for the therapists at Mind Works!”
“Mindworks is the leader in child centered play therapy and collaborative care in San Antonio and surrounding areas. Their focus is solely on the mental health of children and teenagers. Each clinician at all four locations is seasoned, knowledgeable, experienced, and capable. Parents trust that their child is going to get the treatment and services they need and deserve.
I thoroughly enjoyed working as a clinician at Mindworks. The support and leadership is consistent and outstanding. Unlike any other job that I have had, leadership and clinicians work together to cultivate an awesome work environment.”
Help Your Child Soar to New Heights
A world of possibility awaits your child, and we’re so excited for the opportunity to help them work through roadblocks, improve their skills, and unleash their potential. Get in touch with our team at (210) 366-3700 and start your child down a happier, healthier path today!