Empowered Neurodiversity
About
Autism Insights, PLLC was created with the goal of providing evidence-based psychological evaluations to enable neurodiverse children and their families reach their highest potential. Diagnostic clarity through a psychological evaluation allows access to resources that increase the child’s ability to meet the demands of their environment and to learn to advocate to have their needs met. These resources contribute to the overall well-being of the child and the family.
Approximately 1 in 36 children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. All families deserve compassion, understanding, and support, and the diagnostic process can provide clarification that enables families to access useful supports that they deserve.
Thank you for considering partnering with Dr. Deanna Zarei towards mental and behavioral understanding of your child. She is excited to meet with and learn about your child’s mental health and behavioral wellness needs.
*Disclaimer: Autistic communities have expressed a desire to use “identity-first” language (i.e. “autistic individual”) rather than “person-first” language (i.e. “person with autism"). Identity-first language is used on this website, consistent with information from the autistic community. If you prefer person-first language, please inform Dr. Zarei and she will work to incorporate your preference into the testing process.
“Different is not less.”
-Temple Grandin
Signs of Autism
“Autism is one word attempting to describe millions of different stories.”- Stuart Duncan (father of an autistic child)
“If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” - Dr. Stephen Shore, Ed.D. (autistic individual and autism advocate)
These quotes highlight the vast diversity that exists within the autism spectrum. While there are common features that are the basis for the diagnosis, the assortment of these characteristics blend together differently for each person. The following signs as stated in the DSM-5-TR are features that tend to be prevalent in the majority of individuals who meet criteria for ASD:
Social Communication and Interaction
Difficulties with social-emotional reciprocity (back-and-forth conversation, sharing of interests, initiating and responding to social interactions)
Decreased nonverbal communicative behaviors (eye contact, body language, and use of gestures)
Difficulties developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships
Restricted, Repetitive Patterns of Behavior
Repetitive motor movements or speech (lining up objects)
Need to adhere to a routine (struggles to tolerate changes in routine)
Intense and restricted interests
Being hyper (sensitive) or hypo (less responsive) reactive to sensory input