Autism evaluation for young children ages 14-47 months.
Early answers, compassionate care, and a clear path forward for your child.
Early identification of autism can open the door to timely and effective support. Dr. Vicki Roe, a board-certified pediatrician, offers evaluations for children ages 14-47 months using a validated diagnostic protocol at Bloom. The Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT™) is an empirically based, interactive measure specifically designed for young children. The activities involved in the STAT assess key social and communicative behaviors including imitation, play, requesting, and directing attention.
Current research and standards show that getting treatment as early as possible helps a child overcome many of the challenges associated with autism. As part of Indiana's statewide Early Autism Evaluation Hub system, the evaluations we administer at Bloom provide families with a detailed clinical report that is an important document for proving the diagnosis as the family applies for therapies and benefits. As part of the written evaluation report we provide at Bloom, we'll share individualized recommendations and practical strategies to support your child's growth and development at home, in school, and in the community.
Early Childhood Autism Evaluation is a four-step process:
Our early childhood autism evaluations are designed to be both efficient and comprehensive. With a minimal time commitment for families, the process provides clear answers and meaningful next steps. We believe families deserve not only a diagnosis, but also the tools and resources needed to support their child's long-term success.
Intake Appointment
During your intake, you will meet with Dr. Vicki Roe, a board-certified pediatrician, to discuss current concerns, social and developmental history, and review relevant records. Dr. Roe will discuss the evaluation process with you, and you’ll have the option to schedule an evaluation for your child.
Evaluation
Your child will complete the Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT™), along with a physical exam in our office, with a parent(s) present. Dr. Roe has nearly 30 years of experience working with children and families, and specialized training in autism evaluations for children 14-47 months of age. Evaluation typically takes 30 minutes.
Feedback Session
You will have the option to review results of the evaluation immediately following the screening. If preferred, a separate appointment with a parent(s) only can be scheduled with Dr. Roe to review results. You'll leave with practical next steps tailored to your child.
Written Report
You will receive a detailed written report summarizing results, diagnosis, and recommendations to share with your care team. This report serves as proof of diagnosis for accessing therapies and benefits, and provides guidance for next steps, including therapy, educational services, and community resources.
What happens after testing?
Dr. Roe will provide specific recommendations regarding your next steps based on the evaluation results. These may include:
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy or other interventions
Additional medical testing (such as genetic or hearing tests)
Coordination of care if more specialized testing is needed
Questions about Early Childhood Autism Evaluations
-
Early childhood autism evaluations are designed for children between 14 and 47 months of age who may be showing signs of autism. Concerns may be raised by parents, family members, childcare providers, therapists, or medical professionals. An evaluation can help clarify whether these concerns are related to autism and guide next steps for support.
-
Research shows that starting treatment as early as possible helps children with autism make the most progress. The most common-and often most effective-treatment is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Insurance usually requires an official autism diagnosis from a qualified professional before covering ABA. An early diagnosis may also make children eligible for additional health benefits, such as Indiana's Medicaid waiver program, which can take months or even years to secure. Beginning the evaluation and application process early helps families access the care and support they need sooner.
-
Autism in early childhood (before age 4) should be diagnosed by a qualified medical or psychological professional with specific expertise in child development. At Bloom, early childhood autism evaluations are conducted by Dr. Vicki Roe, a board-certified pediatrician with nearly 30 years of experience working with children and families and specialized training in autism evaluation for children 14-47 months of age. She uses evidence-based tools designed for very young children and combines them with her decades of pediatric experience to provide families with accurate, thoughtful, and compassionate diagnoses.
-
Parents can request an evaluation through our website. We start by gathering information through a parent questionnaire and relevant records. Next, we meet with the family to discuss concerns, complete the evaluation, and provide feedback on diagnosis and next steps.
-
For our current rates, please refer to our Rates page.
-
Dr. Roe is an out-of-network provider, so we do not bill insurance directly. Many families are able to submit receipts to their insurance company for possible reimbursement. We are happy to provide the documentation needed for this process.
-
Each family receives a detailed written report after the evaluation. This report serves as:
Proof of diagnosis for accessing therapies and benefits
Guidance for next steps, including therapy, educational services, and community resources
-
In some cases, children are diagnosed with conditions such as global developmental delay or speech/language delay instead of autism. These children can still benefit from therapies and services.
If more specialized testing is needed, we will work with families to coordinate care-sometimes through programs such as Riley Hospital's Developmental Pediatrics team.
-
Visit our Get Started page to complete a short form with some basic information about your child. We’ll reach out to you to schedule an initial intake appointment with Dr. Roe.
Grow with Bloom, today!
Complete our New Client Request Form to set up an appointment.
After you complete the form, you’ll receive an email from us via SimplePractice (our EMR) to setup your Client Portal access and complete our intake forms online.
Once you’ve completed all the required forms, we’ll email you to schedule an initial appointment.
