Does my child have autism?
Wondering if it might be autism?
Before there is any diagnosis, a short screen can tell you whether it makes sense to look more closely. We will point you to the tool that fits your child's age and go through what it means together, at no cost to you.
Where to begin
The right starting point depends on your child's age.
There are three tools we rely on. Two are quick questionnaires you can do from home, and one is something our clinicians do with your child in person. Here is how to tell which one fits.
Toddlers, around 16 to 30 months
M-CHAT-R
The M-CHAT-R is a short questionnaire you answer yourself, as the person who knows your child best. It looks for the early signs that can show up before a child turns two. It is free, and we will email it to you the moment you ask.
Take the M-CHAT-R →Older, school-age children
CAST
The CAST is an online questionnaire written for children whose toddler years are behind them. It asks about the way your child talks with and relates to other people, and it gives you a feel for whether a closer look is worth your time.
Take the CAST →In our clinic, for children under six
ADOS-2
The ADOS-2 is the one you do not fill out at home. A clinician sits with your child and guides them through play while watching how they respond, and it carries genuine diagnostic weight. We administer it here at our Fridley center.
A screen is a first look, never a diagnosis.
A result that raises a flag does not mean your child is autistic, and a quiet result is not a promise that everything is typical. What a screen gives you is a sense of whether the next conversation is worth having. When you are ready for that conversation, we are here for it.
Take the next step
Tell us about your child and we will help you start.
Share a few details and we will send the screen that fits your child's age, then follow up to talk through whatever it brings up. If you would rather hear a voice first, call us and we will help you find the right place to begin.