Expert ADHD Assessment for Children in Orange County, CA

Book an Appointment

An Affirming Approach to Understanding Your Child’s Strengths

At The Sterling Institute for Autism, we believe a diagnostic evaluation should be an empowering, validating experience for your whole family. Children perceive, process, move through, and interact with the world in their own distinct ways. Our clinical goal is simple: to illuminate your child’s natural cognitive profile, personal strengths, daily communication style, and specific support needs.

When seeking an autism assessment for children, parents often find themselves navigating an overwhelming mix of questions, worry, confusion, and mixed advice. Our clinical process is deeply grounded in scientific research, built on respect, and designed around neurodiversity-affirming principles. Rather than focusing on perceived deficits, we honor your child’s individuality while delivering thorough evaluations that offer genuine clarity.

Comprehensive Evaluations Tailored for Co-Occurring Needs

Autistic traits rarely exist in isolation. Differences in executive functioning, sensory processing, attention patterns, emotional regulation, and motor coordination often overlap, making a nuanced differential diagnosis essential.

Alongside specialized developmental evaluations, our team conducts a thorough ADHD assessment for children, adolescents, and teens to capture a complete picture of how your child learns, focuses, socializes, and thrives. Serving families across Orange County, CA—including Newport Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, and neighboring coastal communities—we ensure that every evaluation accounts for co-occurring traits, providing you with a clear, actionable roadmap for home, school, healthcare, and community settings.

Supporting Your Family Beyond the Diagnostic Journey

A diagnosis is never an endpoint; it is the start of deeper self-understanding, effective self-advocacy, and meaningful support. Following your child’s evaluation, our clinicians collaborate closely with parents, caregivers, educators, and pediatricians to translate diagnostic insights into actionable strategies, compassionate accommodations, and practical everyday tools.

As your family navigates different life stages, we provide holistic care for everyone involved—including compassionate individual therapy for autism for autistic adults, young adults, parents, and partners seeking emotional balance, personal growth, and stronger connections.

Contact our team today to schedule an initial consultation or learn more about our diagnostic process in Newport Beach.

Child arranging colorful wooden blocks during autism assessment for children.

Ready to Get Started?

Let The Sterling Institute for Autism be your trusted partner in understanding your child. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Book an Appointment
Happy mother embracing young daughter after autism assessment for children.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age should I consider an autism assessment for my child?

We see children of all ages, including early detection starting in toddlerhood, as early as 18 months of age. We regularly provide formal comprehensive assessments for school-aged children and teens. If you’re unsure whether now is the right time, we’re happy to provide a consultation to help guide your decision.

How long does an autism or ADHD assessment take?

Our comprehensive assessments generally occur over multiple sessions, including parent interviews, child testing, and feedback meetings. The process often takes a few weeks from intake to feedback, followed by a formal report, allowing time for thoughtful analysis. We prioritize accuracy and depth over speed, ensuring your family receives the insights you need.

Can my child have both autism and ADHD?

Yes, it’s not uncommon for children to meet criteria for both autism and ADHD. Our assessments are designed to differentiate and recognize overlapping traits, ensuring each diagnosis is made with precision and context. Understanding both conditions together allows us to recommend more personalized and effective support strategies.

What should we expect during an autism assessment for children at your clinic?

Our diagnostic process is designed to be gentle, supportive, and accommodating to your child's sensory and emotional needs. We begin with a detailed parent intake to gather developmental history, followed by structured direct observations, play-based interactions, standard developmental measures, and feedback from teachers or caregivers. Afterward, we meet with you for an in-depth feedback session where we explain the findings clearly and map out realistic next steps.

How do you handle evaluations when ADHD or other conditions might also be present?

Because attention differences, executive functioning challenges, sensory sensitivities, anxiety, and motor coordination variations frequently overlap, a single-focused evaluation can miss the bigger picture. Our comprehensive evaluations naturally incorporate an ADHD assessment for children and teens alongside autism testing. This multi-dimensional approach helps us differentiate overlapping traits, avoid misdiagnosis, and provide a clear, accurate profile of how your child experiences the world.

Do you evaluate older children, teens, and young adults?

Yes. While early identification is common, many bright or masking individuals reach adolescence or adulthood before seeking answers. We work with school-aged children, young adults, parents, and partners across Orange County, CA. For older clients or family members seeking personal support after a diagnosis, we also offer specialized individual therapy for autism to assist with self-advocacy, identity exploration, life transitions, and relationship dynamics.

How do we get started with an evaluation at your Newport Beach office?

Getting started is straightforward. You can reach out directly to speak with our intake coordinator, discuss your child's unique situation, ask preliminary questions, and determine whether our clinic is the right fit. From there, we will schedule your initial parent consultation and guide you through each step of the testing process.