Common questions about evaluations.

Consider an evaluation if any of the following sound familiar:

• Your child’s pediatrician discussed social or language milestones not being met at a well-check appointment
• Your child does not make eye contact or avoids eye contact with others
• Your child is easily startled or agitated by noises or other sensory input
• Your child is experiencing communication difficulties
• Your child has limited interest in interacting with others
• Your child has unexplained behavioral challenges
• Your child has difficulty with changes or unexpected occurrences

For a more comprehensive list of signs and symptoms, visit the CDC website.

CDC: Signs and symptoms of autism ↗

We evaluate children as young as 12 months to determine their risk for autism spectrum disorder. Even though a formal diagnosis is not usually made until around 18 months or later, we strongly recommend evaluating children as early as possible for intervention planning.

In addition, some children do not show full symptoms until closer to age 3 and may not be diagnosed during earlier evaluations. A small percentage of children will not show full symptoms until later in childhood.

We also evaluate adolescents and adults. Learn more about how we tailor evaluations by age.

Ages we serve →

Yes. Some autistic adults are never diagnosed in childhood, even with significant symptoms. A diagnosis later in life can open access to services and support that improve quality of life.

ABA therapy at Axis is primarily for children and adolescents; adults seeking ongoing support are referred to appropriate resources.

We accept most Medicaid plans and some commercial insurance. We also offer a cash-pay option and accept all major credit cards. Call us at (602) 888-8882 with your insurance card to verify benefits, or to talk about cash pay.

It depends on your insurance plan. Some providers require a referral before an evaluation. No referral is needed for cash-pay families. You can call, fax, or submit our online form to get started, and our team will let you know if a referral is required when we verify coverage.

Yes, we accept Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) funds for evaluation services. ESA eligibility and approved uses are determined by the Arizona Department of Education. Contact us to discuss how an evaluation may fit your family’s plan.

We can typically schedule an evaluation within 30 days.

We ask you to complete a consent form, background questionnaire, and Behavior Rating Scales in advance of the evaluation. Completing these beforehand ensures our clinicians have the information they need for testing and evaluation.

• Complete all required paperwork at least 3 days prior to your appointment
• Ensure your child is well rested and fed
• If your child wears glasses, hearing aids, communication devices, or similar supports, please bring them
• Let your child know they will be playing games and doing fun activities
• Testing requires 1–2 appointments, typically 60–90 minutes each
• Our office will call you within a week of the evaluation to schedule a feedback session. It is not always necessary or recommended to have the child present for this meeting
• You will receive a written report within 4 weeks after your follow-up appointment with the psychologist, once all necessary paperwork and scoring have been submitted

Learn more about our process →

Autism testing is done in person at one of our clinics and requires 1–2 appointments that typically take about 45–90 minutes, depending on the child’s age.

Within a week, we schedule a visit with a licensed psychologist to review testing results and discuss recommendations and next steps. This feedback meeting is conducted via video conference and runs between 30 and 60 minutes.

From first contact through written report, most families receive results in less than 90 days. The written report is typically available within 4 weeks of the follow-up appointment.

Our process →

A licensed psychologist with expertise in autism analyzes and interprets the test results and intake forms, then works with the family to determine a diagnosis.

Evaluations include ADOS and other validated, gold-standard instruments, along with clinical interviews and questionnaires. All assessments are reviewed by doctorate-level licensed clinical psychologists.

Yes. Bilingual psychologists are on staff, and evaluations are available in English and Spanish. Translation support is available for any language.

Send us a message online or call (602) 888-8882 to start the process today. We respond to evaluation requests within one business day.

Request an evaluation →

There are several ways to help other families. You can like and share our page on Facebook or Instagram, or call us at (602) 888-8882 and join our Axis for Autism family group.

Learn about the Parent Alliance →

We ask for at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. This helps us offer the time slot to another family. Contact us as soon as possible if your plans change.