Autism evaluations
1 in 31 children meets criteria for an autism diagnosis.
Explore the likelihood that you or a family member meets criteria for an autism diagnosis through our comprehensive autism evaluations, available in English or Spanish. You will receive individualized feedback and recommendations for next steps. Services are offered in person in Cary, North Carolina and surrounding areas, as well as virtually. Currently, in person services are provided in homes, daycares, or other community settings. See below for options.
Gold-standard autism evaluation
To provide a comprehensive autism evaluation, we offer assessments that may require more than one visit to complete, including activities such as: parent and teacher interviews and questionnaires, medical history review, observations in natural settings, developmental assessments to provide context for differential diagnosis, and a standardized evaluation of autism. We offer the following autism assessment measures:
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd edition (ADOS-2): An in-person evaluation that is considered part of a gold-standard autism assessment for toddlers to adults
Childhood Autism Rating Scale, 2nd edition (CARS-2): An autism rating scale based on direct observation of individuals age 2 and up
Tele-ASD-Peds (TAP): A telemedicine-based evaluation tool for toddlers and young children
Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA): A virtual adaptation of the ADOS-2 for older children, adolescents, and adults
Formal diagnosis of autism
A team approach is recommended for a formal, medical diagnosis of autism. Because autism impacts social and communication skills, speech-language pathologists are considered critical team members. To offer a team approach, the Kinard Center connects autism experts in speech-language pathology with other medical providers in the community, such as psychologists, who can collaborate on the evaluation process. Autism evaluations that can result in a medical diagnosis are offered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the availability of these additional medical providers to participate on the team. The Kinard Center will coordinate this process for you.
Informal autism assessment
You are welcome to request an autism evaluation that does not result in a medical diagnosis of autism. In this case, a single-discipline approach with one autism expert would be implemented. You would receive expert feedback on characteristics associated with autism, including the estimated likelihood that an individual has autism and recommendations for next steps. A medical diagnosis of autism could be pursued afterward if desired or indicated.
Autism Expertise
The Kinard Center founder and lead clinician, Dr. Jessica Kinard, PhD CCC-SLP, is a bilingual (English/Spanish) speech-language pathologist and autism expert who has served as research, teaching, and clinical faculty for 10 years at UNC Chapel Hill, where she completed her doctoral and postdoctoral training in the fields of Speech and Hearing Sciences and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Dr. Kinard is clinically and research-certified in administering the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd edition (ADOS-2), part of a gold-standard approach to diagnosing autism. Dr. Kinard brings over 15 years of experience in the field of autism.
FAQs
Questions about services? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page. You’re also welcome to contact us with questions.