ASSESSMENTS

Autism Assessment

A comprehensive evaluation built on the ADOS-2 and ADI-R — focused on understanding how you, or your child, experience, process, and communicate with the world.

Smiling young adult by a window, autism assessment for teens and adults

1,000+

Families Served Since 2016

4

Bay Area Offices & Telehealth

4.6 ★

Rating on Zocdoc

$54k+

Reimbursements Recovered

OVERVIEW

More than a diagnosis.

An autism evaluation is about much more than just a diagnosis — it is about deeply understanding how an individual experiences, processes, and communicates with the world.

While we utilize the gold-standard diagnostic tools, we believe that true clarity comes from listening deeply to you, exploring your or your child's unique history, and understanding the real-world context in which these traits appear.

WHEN TO CONSIDER AN ASSESSMENT

Signs you might consider an autism assessment

Autism is a spectrum, meaning it shows up differently in everyone. Often, families or adults seek an evaluation when they notice a specific cluster of traits that impact daily life, school, or relationships. You might consider an assessment if you or your child experience:

Trait 01

Behavioral & Thought Rigidity

A strong preference for routines, intense distress over unexpected transitions, or a need for things to happen in a very specific order.

Trait 02

Sensory Processing Issues

Being highly sensitive (or under-reactive) to sounds, textures, lights, clothing tags, or specific food consistencies.

Trait 03

Communication Nuances

A naturally monotone or flat voice, difficulty reading subtle social cues, or taking figurative language very literally.

Trait 04

Intense, Focused Interests

Developing a deep, passionate expertise in highly specific topics, objects, or hobbies that brings immense joy but can sometimes overshadow social interactions.

YOUR ASSESSORS

Meet the assessors

Dr. Richard Heafey, Psy.D., licensed clinical psychologist at Unfold Psychology

Dr. Richard Heafey

Psy.D. · MFT · M.A. · License #30807

Licensed clinical psychologist with training in clinical, counseling, and forensic psychology, working across therapy, assessment, and court-related matters to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges through connection and heart.

Dr. Jordan Hazzard, Psy.D., clinical psychologist at Unfold Psychology

Dr. Jordan Hazzard

Psy.D. · License #35403

Clinical psychologist specializing in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, working with adults and older adolescents. Provides psychological testing, clinical supervision, and teaching alongside his practice.

OUR TOOLS

Evidence-based assessment tools

Autism is not identified by a single test. A sound diagnosis rests on direct observation, a detailed developmental history, and how traits actually show up in everyday life. We use the instruments most widely relied on in autism research and clinical practice:

01 · DIRECT OBSERVATION

Observed, not just reported

A standardized session where we directly observe social communication, play, and repetitive behavior firsthand.

ADOS-2

02 · DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY

The full developmental story

A structured caregiver interview covering early development, social interaction, and restricted or repetitive interests.

ADI-R

03 · REAL-WORLD SOCIAL SCALES

Perspectives from daily life

Rating scales and language measures showing how social communication plays out day to day, including adult self-report.

SRS-2 · PRAGMATIC LANGUAGE MEASURE

differential diagnosis

What else could explain this?

Several conditions produce social difficulty that resembles autism, and autism frequently travels alongside other diagnoses. Distinguishing between the two — and identifying both when both are present — is the difference between a label and a plan. Alongside the autism-specific instruments, we systematically consider:

Attention & Hyperactivity (ADHD)

Inattention, impulsivity, and social difficulty overlap heavily with autism. Roughly a third of autistic people also meet criteria for ADHD — and when both apply, both diagnoses belong in the report.

Language & Social Communication Disorders

Language disorders and social (pragmatic) communication disorder can produce very similar conversational difficulty — without the restricted, repetitive patterns that define autism.

Anxiety, OCD & Selective Mutism

Social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and situational silence can all look like autistic withdrawal or rigidity. They also co-occur often: anxiety affects roughly one in four autistic people.

Cognitive & Learning Differences

Intellectual and learning differences can account for social and academic struggle on their own. Establishing the cognitive baseline tells us what autism explains — and what it doesn't.

We also confirm that hearing and vision are not the underlying driver, and where the clinical picture is genuinely ambiguous we add measures of thought organization and interpersonal perception to distinguish autism from psychotic-spectrum or personality-based presentations.

HOW IT WORKS

How the process works.

Above all, our clinicians take care to explain the results in clear, everyday language — skipping medical jargon and long-winded reports.

1

We listen

A comprehensive clinical interview to gather background information and understand your specific concerns.

2

We select the right tools

We carefully select the most appropriate assessment tools based on age, behaviors, and the unique questions we're trying to answer.

3

We synthesize

Our clinicians analyze the results, integrating information from all sources to form a complete, clear picture of cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning.

4

We map out next steps

A detailed report interprets our findings, provides a diagnostic formulation if appropriate, and outlines specific recommendations for treatment, accommodations, or daily support.

The Unfold difference.

Expert differential diagnosis

We distinguish autism from co-occurring or mimicking conditions with rigor, so you get clarity — not a label.

Court-competent reporting

Our reports meet the evidentiary standards required for legal, educational, and medical decisions.

Compassionate, family-centered care

The evaluation process is designed around your family's pace, comfort, and goals — not a template.

PRICING

Comprehensive pricing.

Our autism evaluation is priced within our comprehensive assessment range. Every quote includes everything below — no add-on charges for scoring, report writing, or your family feedback session.

Comprehensive Assessment

$3,750–$15,000

Contact us for a quote based on your specific needs.

What's Included

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can adults be assessed for autism?

Yes. Autism is a spectrum and can be identified at any age. Our battery includes rating scales completed by the adult client themselves (SRS-2), and we conduct assessments for adults seeking clarity about lifelong differences in social communication, sensory experience, or focused interests.

How long does an autism assessment take to complete?

Testing itself is typically completed across multiple sessions. Report turnaround depends on the option you choose: Normal (6–8 weeks), Expedited (4–6 weeks), Rush (3–5 weeks), or Tornado (2–3 weeks).

What happens after an autism assessment?

Every assessment concludes with a dedicated family feedback results session to walk through findings in clear, everyday language. Depending on the results, next steps may include therapy referrals, educational accommodations (IEP or 504 plans), or coordination with your school or medical team.

Who conducts the autism assessment?

Autism assessments at Unfold Psychology are conducted by Dr. Heafey and Dr. Hazzard, both licensed clinical psychologists with expertise in comprehensive diagnostic evaluation.

How much does an autism assessment cost?

Comprehensive assessments range from $3,750 to $15,000. Where an autism evaluation lands in that range depends mostly on how much differential work is needed — identifying or ruling out ADHD, language differences, or anxiety alongside autism adds testing time, and the core instruments are themselves lengthy: the ADI-R caregiver interview alone runs 90 minutes to two and a half hours.

Every quote is all-inclusive — all testing sessions, scoring of every instrument, the written report, and your family feedback session. There are no separate charges for scoring or report writing.

You’ll receive a specific quote at your free 15-minute consultation, once we know what the evaluation needs to answer.

Does insurance cover an autism assessment?

We are out-of-network with all insurance plans — but we don’t leave the paperwork to you. We provide superbills, and our insurance specialist submits claims to your insurer on your behalf at no extra cost. It is not uncommon for plans to reimburse 20–60% of out-of-network costs. Autism evaluations are also eligible for HSA and FSA funds.

MORE WAYS WE CAN HELP

Related services

ADHD Assessment

Comprehensive evaluation to clarify an ADHD diagnosis and guide treatment, for children and adults.

Neuropsychological Testing

In-depth testing of memory, attention, and cognition to understand how the brain is working.

Learning Disability Testing

Evaluation to identify learning differences and unlock the right accommodations and support.

LOCATIONS

Four Bay Area offices

Plus telehealth throughout California.

San Jose

1120 McKendrie St.

San Jose, CA 95126

Corte Madera

100 Tamal Vista Blvd., Ste. 107

Corte Madera, CA 94925

Oakland

1955 Mountain Blvd., Ste. 101

Oakland, CA 94611

San Francisco

2860 Laguna St., Ste. 101

San Francisco, CA 94123

We are proud to provide inclusive care for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Ready to take the next step?

Book a free 15-minute consultation. We'll listen, answer your questions, and help you figure out the right path forward.

Or Text Us at (650) 993-9321

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