The Parent's Complete Guide to Autism Evaluations: What to Expect Before, During, and After

The waiting is the worst part. You've been watching your child, noticing things, writing mental notes, googling at midnight, and trying to decide whether your instincts are right or whether you're overreacting. You've probably been told by at least one well-meaning person — maybe a relative, maybe even a doctor — that it's a phase, that boys are just slower, that you're comparing too much. And yet something keeps pulling at you. If you've gotten to the point where an autism evaluation has been scheduled — or you're trying to figure out how to get one — you're doing exactly the right thing. Seeking answers is the first act of advocacy for your child. What happens next can feel intimidating and opaque, so this guide is going to walk you through the entire process: who does evaluations, what they actually involve, how to prepare, what to expect on the day, how to understand the results, and what to do if something doesn't feel right. If you've already received a diagnosis and are wondering what comes next, our article After an Autism Diagnosis: What to Do Next (/library/after-autism-diagnosis-what-to-do) picks up right where this one leaves off.