A child ADHD and Autism Assessment is a structured assessment performed by a Licensed Psychologist, looking at attention, learning, social communication and behaviour issues to help determine what is happening for your child. At Calm Clarity Therapy we provide ADHD and Autism assessments in person with Dr. Anisha Bagga, PsyD. No referrals are required and they can be provided for children aged 5+. Many parents come to us after noticing things aren't quite right at home or school and assessments can help collate all those thoughts into a clear picture. A psychological assessment can help to understand your child better, and can help with getting support in school, a diagnosis or just understanding how their brain works.

When should I get my child assessed for ADHD or Autism?

If your child is showing consistent issues with attention, behaviour, learning and/or socialising in more than one setting (usually at home and school). Common symptoms of ADHD include difficulty completing tasks, losing items regularly, being very restless and struggling with multi-step instructions. Common symptoms of Autism include differences with eye contact and reciprocal conversation, intense interests, a need for sameness and sensitivity to sensory input. ADHD can only be diagnosed if symptoms are shown in 2+ settings (American Academy of Pediatrics) so it is important to consider what is happening at home and what the teacher is seeing. You are not overreacting if you feel your child needs some support. Find out more about children's mental health and when to seek help.

What is the difference between ADHD and Autism testing?

ADHD testing looks at attention, impulsivity and executive functioning. Autism testing looks at social communication, sensory processing and repetitive/sameness behaviours. ADHD assessments involve standardised questionnaires completed by parents/teachers, a structured history and direct measures of attention. Autism assessments (CDC) may include observation, structured testing and interviews with carers/questionnaires. Whilst the assessments look at different questions, they both involve thorough history taking and observations. ADHD revolves around difficulties with executive functioning and understanding how this presents can help determine what support your child needs.

Can my child be tested for both ADHD and Autism?

Yes your child can be assessed for both ADHD and Autism at the same time. Often it is a wise choice to do this as the two can often overlap. Nearly 78% of children with ADHD will have at least 1 co-existing condition (CDC). If only one condition is being assessed then you could miss a second condition as many of the symptoms can be similar. Inattention, socialising and transitioning can all be impacted by both ADHD and Autism. By doing a dual assessment you avoid having to pay for and attend another assessment. We provide both ADHD and ADHD & Autism assessments so we can tailor to your child's needs.

How does a child assessment work?

All assessments involve an initial intake, testing, report and feedback. The intake will gather information about your child's development, school and any concerns you may have. Testing will involve standardised measures and direct observations. Testing for children will be in person at our Denver office. Dr. Anisha Bagga, PsyD will produce a report explaining what was found. The feedback will involve a discussion about what was found and what next. Results will be shared with your permission. The report can be used for support in school, diagnosis or just to understand your child better.

School assessment vs Private Psychological Assessment

A school assessment will determine if your child is eligible for support in school such as an IEP. A private psychological assessment will provide a diagnosis and detailed report. School teams will look at your child's eligibility for support based on education law. A private assessment performed by a licensed psychologist will look at your child holistically including attention, learning, social communication and emotional functioning. If your child meets the criteria they will be given a diagnosis. They are not interchangeable but many families will utilise both. A private assessment can help provide information to have a discussion with school. The school will also have observations which will go into the clinical history. A private assessment will also be on its own timeline.

Is a referral required? Will it be covered by insurance?

No referrals or notes from your paediatrician are required to book an assessment for your child. Testing will be pay-as-you-go whilst we get credentialed. A Good Faith Estimate can be sent from the intake team. We are in-network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Select Health and Colorado Medicaid for therapy and medication management. The intake team will check your benefits. We also offer a sliding scale.

Getting your child assessed for ADHD or Autism in Colorado

Calm Clarity Therapy can provide assessments for ADHD & Autism for children across Colorado. Our assessments are performed in person by Dr. Anisha Bagga, PsyD (licensed psychologist) at our Denver office for children aged 5+. Around 31 (3.2%) children aged 8 have been identified with Autism by the CDC's ADDM Network. Nationally, it is estimated that 7 million children (11.7%) aged 3-17 currently have a diagnosis of ADHD (CDC). You are not alone. Within the Colorado ADDM site, the median age for first diagnosis of autism was 48.5 months. 2.9% of children aged 3-17 in Colorado are receiving medication and behavioural treatment for ADHD (America's Health Rankings). What makes us different is we have a single team to provide testing, therapy and medication management.

We also offer Telehealth therapy across the state. Every child will be different and there is no one 'right' time to start. Understanding how your child's brain works can help provide extra support.