Our approach to Autism Testing in New York City
Comprehend the mind is a pioneer in NYC, not only Autism testing and assessment but also education.
Dr. Sanam Hafeez, our director, and a longtime advocate of neurodiversity in schools and the workplace,
is the author of a textbook on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of Autism.
What compelled Dr. Hafeez to write the textbook was the overwhelming need for proper diagnostic methods
in Autism evaluations for both children and adults.
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What is the Autism Spectrum
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent challenges with social communication and interaction, and by restrictive or repetitive behaviors, sensory sensitivities, interests, or activities. The word ‘spectrum’ refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of disability that people with ASD can experience. Symptoms of ASD typically appear in early childhood, often within the first two years of life, but may not be recognized until later in cases of less severe challenges or higher functioning individuals, who may inadvertently mask symptoms.
Read more about signs and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder here.
How does Autism Testing differ at Comprehend the Mind
The clinical and psychometric team at Comprehend the Mind begins an Autism evaluation with a detailed initial assessment comprised of an interview of the individual, child, and/or parent, a review of all previous records, and designing a tailored
assessment plan. The following session(s) assess Autism within the context of a greater neuropsychological battery, using tests like the ADOS-2, the gold standard in Autism testing, when performed by an experienced clinician, objective scales such as the CARS-2, GARS-3, teacher and parent scales, as well as adult rating scales such as the RITVO and camouflaging scales. The diagnoses and clinical impressions, while derived in great part from the data, are also reached collaboratively as a team, rather than one individual neuropsychologist. Research shows that interrater reliability in Autism leads to far more accurate diagnoses than when assessing alone. Recommendations are carefully planned from OPWDD and ABA services, to placement in the right school programs, for children. Adults benefit from guidance on workplace and higher learning accommodations, therapy, and medication.
Learn more about autism and our approach.