Autism Spectrum Disorder

Offering the gold-standard in Autism assessment, the ADOS-2 assessment and MIGDAS-2 structured interview
to provide data-driven answers for questions about Autism from childhood to adulthood
tailored just to you.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental difference that impacts many areas of life. Autistic individuals may have differences in how they communicate, socialize, and navigate relationships. They may also have differences in sensory processing and motor movements, as well as distinct approaches to routine and engaging with their interests. While autism comes with many strengths, autistic individuals also often face significant challenges in school, at work, and in relationships as they navigate a world primarily designed for neurotypicals.

Testing for Autism can increase self-acceptance, inform treatment planning, and allow you or your loved one to access needed supports. Research shows that early intervention brings major long-term improvement to individuals with autism. However, many Autistic individuals (especially female presenting) go undiagnosed until adulthood. Testing in adulthood can help answer questions from your life’s path, provide access to resources, and foster self-understanding. Whether in childhood or adulthood, formal assessment is essential to provide accurate diagnoses, rule-out other potential explanations, and identify your specific strengths and vulnerabilities.

Common Signs of Autism

Autism is a spectrum and it is likely that you or your loved one won’t have all (and may not have any) of these specific signs.

    • Feels misunderstood by others, or misunderstands others

    • Insistence on playing “their way”

    • Preferring to connect with others who are notably older or younger than them

    • Trouble connecting with others’ interests

    • May prefer to play alone, or “beside” rather than “with”

    • Difficulty entering conversations

    • May talk at unusual length about their interests but have trouble maintaining long conversations on other topics

    • Challenges making and keeping friends

    • Differences in maintaining back and forth conversations

    • May use greeting rituals or repetitive, patterned speech

    • Difficulty labeling own and others’ emotions accurately or describing friendship

    • Seen as a “model student” but experiencing break downs at home

    • Unusual difficulty with changes in routine

    • Strong reactions/preferences for sensory input (noise, crowds, food textures, clothes, etc.)

    • Unusual use of eye contact

    • Comforting motor behaviors (rubbing, picking, chewing, rocking)

    • Unusual intensity or depth of interest in favorite things

    • Extra sensitive or notably less sensitive to sensory input (i.e., unusual pain reactions, ignoring experiences commonly uncomfortable to others)

    • Repeating phrases from books, shows or movies

    • Humming or other repetitive sounds

    • Unusually strong moral compass or insistence that others follow the rules

    • Always felt “different” and were never sure why

    • Dreading small talk

    • Social interaction highly exhausting

    • Avoiding certain environments because of sensory experience, or seeking out environments for specific sensory input

    • Challenges with relationships

    • Relying heavily on daily routines, schedules, or other tools to help you cope

    • Have strong, deep interests and at times struggle to disengage from them

    • Feeling like you are “putting on an act” or “wearing a mask”

    • Intentionally using learned social patterns to help you navigate social situations

    • Perfectionism in multiple areas of life

    • Tendency to “shut down” when overwhelmed

    • Strong sense of justice

    • Uncomfortable adjusting social behavior for different contexts

Why Songbird Psychological Services?

Efficient

No long waitlists: Immediate appointments are available

Results typically provided in 2 weeks

Evidence-Based

Our experts use the most up-to-date measures with the strongest research support wherever possible

No quick check-lists or guesses; just data-driven, compassionate answers

Empathetic

We center authentic and compassionate care

Culturally responsive, affirming evaluations

What Does Autism Testing Involve?

1) Intake Appointment

Your assessment will begin with a clinical intake. If you are an adult, this appointment will be completed by you. If the evaluation is for your child, the intake will involve a parent/caregiver clinical interview. We will gather comprehensive, trauma-informed background information and collaborate with you to determine goals for testing.

2) Testing Appointment

A typical assessment will include
3-6 hours of face-to-face comprehensive testing. This includes cognitive functioning tests, self- and other- report measures, completion of the ADOS-2/MIGDAS-2, and other assessments specific to your presenting concerns.

We do not use psychometricians. All of your testing time will be directly with our doctoral-level experts.

3) Feedback Session

Two weeks after your testing appointment, we will provide a feedback session to discuss the results of your assessment. Diagnoses and recommendations will be provided and you will have the opportunity to process your results and ask questions.

4) Report and Ongoing Support

After your feedback session, you will be provided with a thorough written report. This details the testing received, results, diagnoses, and recommendations. It is often used to support access to accommodations and to guide treatment planning.

Our experts remain available to you for follow-up questions, support, and advocacy as needed.

Thank you for trusting us with your care

Comprehesive Autism Evaluations serving Vancouver, WA

We are honored to serve the autistic community in Vancouver, Washington, and the surrounding Southwest Washington and Portland metro area. Our neurodiversity-affirming practice provides comprehensive autism evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults. We are passionate about providing accessible, high-quality psychological care that celebrates differences while supporting vulnerabilities, and creates space for lasting change through evidence-based treatment. 

Our office is conveniently located in downtown Vancouver, WA, just off I-5, making it easy to access from Vancouver, Camas, Washougal, Salmon Creek, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, and Portland, Oregon. Free parking is available in the building parking lot. For clients traveling from Salem, Oregon or Olympia, Washington, we are happy to do our best to accommodate the long travel distance with single-day testing appointments when possible, virtual intakes, and virtual feedback sessions as requested. Whether you're seeking an adult autism assessment or a child autism evaluation, we are committed to providing thoughtful, evidence-based evaluations in a welcoming and supportive environment. If you or your child requires specific sensory accommodations, please let us know prior to your appointment.

Request More Information