Sometimes it is the sensory overwhelm at school, sometimes the social moments that never quite land, sometimes an adult finally connecting the dots. In Oconomowoc, Core Spring builds each autism evaluation around the social, sensory, and behavioral concerns that brought you in, with one psychologist from start to finish. Reach out on your own, no referral needed.
We focus on the characteristics tied to autism, from social communication and repetitive patterns to sensory sensitivities and flexibility, using gold-standard tools like the ADOS-2 alongside developmental history. The goal is to understand how these patterns have grown over time and how they shape daily life. Because no two clients look alike, the pacing is individualized. Some evaluations wrap in a single block, others span two or three visits, with the timeline shaped by your concerns.
Parents often call about delayed speech, eye-contact difficulties, hand flapping, sensory sensitivities, picky eating, the same outfit every day, or big reactions when routines change.
Teens may seek evaluation for social isolation, difficulty reading nonverbal cues, sensory overwhelm at school, rigid routines, or highly focused interests.
Adults may pursue evaluation after years of masking, childhood quirks now reframed as possible autism, or social and sensory patterns that quietly shape daily life.
Your evaluation begins with a one-hour clinical interview where your psychologist gathers a complete personal history, from childhood experiences through your current daily life. Many adults and children seeking an autism evaluation have spent years wondering why certain things feel harder or different for them, and this conversation creates the foundation for identifying which assessments will be most revealing.
Based on your clinical interview, your psychologist selects a personalized battery of autism-specific assessments. Testing involves 2 to 6 hours of in-person evaluation over one to two days. You may also be sent home with self-report questionnaires, and if you choose, someone close to you (a partner, parent, or close friend) can complete their own questionnaire to provide additional perspective. Screeners for ADHD and executive function are included as standard, since these commonly co-occur with autism.
Your psychologist compiles all testing data, clinical observations, and questionnaire results into a detailed diagnostic report. Any co-occurring conditions identified during the evaluation (ADHD, anxiety, depression, or other concerns) are fully documented so you leave with a complete understanding of your neurodivergent profile.
Approximately two to three weeks after testing, you return for a feedback session. Your psychologist walks through the diagnosis and provides individualized recommendations: practical strategies for work and daily life, therapy or coaching resources, workplace accommodations guidance, and next steps tailored to your specific situation.
Starting with a cognitive and executive function baseline gives the psychologist a foundation for interpreting autism-specific results. Understanding how an individual processes information, plans, organizes, and regulates behavior helps clarify whether observed patterns are driven by autism, attention concerns, learning differences, or a combination. It makes the overall picture more accurate and the recommendations more targeted.
In young children, the evaluation focuses on developmental milestones, play behavior, social interaction, and early communication. In teens, the focus shifts to social dynamics, masking behaviors, executive function challenges, sensory processing, and how autism affects academic and peer functioning. Core Spring Diagnostics adjusts the assessment approach based on developmental stage.
The ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) is a structured, interactive assessment that observes social communication, reciprocal interaction, and play or conversational behavior. It is considered a gold-standard tool for autism evaluation. At Core Spring Diagnostics, the ADOS-2 is part of a broader assessment that also includes cognitive testing, executive function measures, and comorbidity screening.
Yes. Core Spring Diagnostics serves families from Oconomowoc and the surrounding area. The evaluation process is the same regardless of location, with one psychologist guiding every step from intake through the feedback session and final report.
If the evaluation identifies co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, depression, or learning differences, those findings are included in the report with the same depth and detail as the autism findings. Recommendations address the full clinical picture, not just one diagnosis in isolation.
The evaluation report provides a detailed clinical baseline that can guide therapy, school accommodations, and family decision-making over time. Recommendations are designed to be actionable now and useful for future planning, including transitions between school levels, therapy adjustments, and revisiting needs as the individual grows.
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