Child & Adult Autism Test in San Jose & Campbell

Signs of Child & Adult Autism

Common signs of autism include troubles with neurotypical social interaction and communication, restricted or repetitive behaviors (stimming), and special interests. These signs may have been suspected during infancy, yet often become more obvious and labelled as problematic once social demands start to increase such as when entering the school system, going to college independently, or working a job without a structured schedule.

To elaborate on how individuals cope with increased social demands, stimming behaviors may include hand flapping, rocking back and forth, rubbing a comfort object, blinking repetitively, jumping, pacing, hair pulling, and repeating certain words or phrases. Special interests also vary and may change over time; individuals usually have an exceptional knowledge about their special interest(s) and find these topics quite easy to talk about.

Additionally, some autistic individuals experience delayed language skills, impaired motor abilities, ADHD-like symptoms (inattention and/or hyperactivity), and medical issues (gastrointestinal issues or epilepsy); the testing process seeks to clarify around whether signs and symptoms are due to autism and/or a medical or psychiatric condition. Many autistic adults are co-diagnosed with psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, or posttraumatic stress disorder as a result of experiences in a society that has neurotypical expectations for behavior and self-expression.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

A formal ADHD diagnosis has three different types. These are predominantly inattentive type, predominantly hyperactive type, or a combination of both. Common symptoms of inattention include having a short attention span, forgetfulness, daydreamy behavior, troubles listening to directions, difficulty with organization or planning, and starting tasks without finishing them. Common symptoms of hyperactivity impulsivity include trouble remaining seated, constant movement or fidgeting, excessive talking, trouble waiting their turn, interrupting conversations, trouble concentrating, and risk-taking behaviors. In childhood, this is typically observed by teachers and school staff who may remark the child struggles with homework completion, interrupts class activities, doesn’t appear to be listening well, seems distracted, or has trouble starting new tasks.

Symptoms of adult ADHD may cause difficulties with relationships, work, and activities of daily living. With relationships, both platonic and romantic, people with ADHD frequently report difficulties with long-term dating, being told by partners or friends that they are distracted or not listening, forgetfulness of planned activities, and becoming bored by monotonous routines. At work, ADHD symptoms may impact ability to meet deadlines, participation in meetings, timeliness with attendance, organization of to-do tasks, and discomfort with workplace environment (i.e., having to sit at a desk or sitting through a long team meeting).

Activities of daily living are typically impacted in individuals of all ages with ADHD. These include waking up on time, hygiene routines, eating regular meals, planning enough time to complete daily tasks, and going to bed in a timely manner. An accurate diagnosis is essential to be able to provide personalized, necessary recommendations around whether these experiences are due to ADHD or another mental health condition.

There are several mental health conditions that have symptoms overlapping with those experienced in ADHD. Anxiety, depression, sleep problems, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD) are some of the most common considerations of alternative explanations for symptoms when evaluating for ADHD. In many cases, individuals receive multiple diagnoses depending on whether symptoms have a unique impact on their ability to function in everyday life.

At Uplift Psychology Group we provide you with guidance and resources at the end of your testing experience because we know you are seeking answers and support regardless of whether you receive a diagnosis or not. We also provide thorough and understandable information about the diagnostic process before, during, and after testing so that you fully feel prepared. 

1.5-hour video intake

• • If this intake is for a child under age 12, it will be attended by the caregiver(s) only. If the minor is 12 years of age or older, it may decided by the individual and caregiver(s) who will attend the intake. We request that at least one person with knowledge of the minor’s childhood attend for the duration of the intake.
  • For adults, you may bring a support person to the intake if preferred. You will be required to a sign a release of information form on the day of the intake (or in advance) for them to be present.

4 hours of testing (in-person)

• • Testing is focused on cognitive abilities, attentional skills, and self- and/or other-reported observations.
  • 2 hours of academic testing can be added on at a reduced additional fee if concerns related to school performance are present or to rule-out concerns about learning disabilities (separate learning disability testing is offered if you initially have no concerns about ADHD).

1.5 hours of video feedback

• • Split into two parts
  • The first hour is approximately 1-2 weeks after your final testing session. It is to review your report and discuss recommendations.
  • The remaining half hour is a few weeks later to discuss any lingering questions and clarify around referrals/recommendations.

Review of relevant records (optional)

• • This may include school report cards with comments from teachers, proof of difficulties with workplace expectations, medical records, and/or past legal records. Documents more than 5 pages in total will be reviewed at an additional fee quoted prior to services being provided.

ADHD testing: starts at $4,500