At Firefly Diagnostics, we offer comprehensive, autism-specific psychological evaluations for individuals ages 18 months to 21 years of age. Along with a thorough assessment of cognitive/developmental, behavioral, adaptive, social, and emotional domains; specific gold standard measures such the Autism Diagnostic Observation, Second Edition (ADOS-2) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R) will be used to evaluate and assess for autism-specific behaviors. The evaluation process, while at times overwhelming, is intended to paint the most comprehensive picture of a child’s inherent strengths and weaknesses to best conceptualize the challenges he or she may experience when reaching specific developmental demands. However, it also brings light to your child’s many strengths and is ultimately a guide for effective treatment moving forward. The comprehensive autism evaluation is followed up with an individualized feedback session as well as a comprehensive report that is complete with individualized recommendations. Diagnostic evaluation reports can be utilized as a starting point for educational and other services, including, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), 504 Plan accommodations, and SAT/ACT accommodations. As part of your child’s comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Simpson will be available to attend one school meeting (in-person or by phone) after the completion of the evaluation to advocate for the implementation of our recommendations.

A complete psychological evaluation provides a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s cognitive/developmental, behavioral, adaptive, social, and emotional functioning. The evaluation process, while at times overwhelming, is intended to paint the most comprehensive picture of a child's inherent strengths and weaknesses to best conceptualize the challenges he or she may experience when reaching specific developmental demands. However, it also brings light to your child's many strengths and is ultimately a guide for effective treatment moving forward. The comprehensive autism evaluation is followed up with an individualized feedback session as well as a comprehensive report that is complete with individualized recommendations. Diagnostic evaluation reports can be utilized as a starting point for educational and other services, including, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), 504 Plan accommodations, and SAT/ACT accommodations. As part of your child's comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Simpson will be available to attend one school meeting (in-person or by phone) after the completion of the evaluation to advocate for the implementation of our recommendations.

IQ testing is frequently conducted to evaluate one’s overall intellectual ability. Capturing a comprehensive conceptualization into one’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses and specifically looking at areas such as fluid reasoning, working memory, processing speed, etc., cognitive testing provides you with a learning profile that accurately drives the continuation of effective treatment. Additionally, cognitive testing is often required as part of applying for community-centered boards, disability determination, and private school admission testing. Firefly Diagnostic does test individuals who are non-vocal communicators.Below are the standardized cognitive/developmental measures Firefly Diagnostics currently administer:

• Mullen Scales of Early Learning
• Leiter International Performance Scale, Third Edition (Leiter-3)
• Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children- Fifth Edition (WISC-5)
• Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-4)

A specific learning disorder becomes a concern when there are specific deficits in an individual’s ability to perceive or process information efficiently and accurately. First manifesting during the years of formal schooling, learning disabilities are characterized by persistent and impairing difficulties with learning foundational academic skills in reading, writing, and / or math. Individual’s with a specific learning disorder will display performance of the affected academic skill well below average for age, or acceptable performance levels are achieved only with extraordinary effort. 

• Specific learning disorder, with impairment in reading:
  • This disorder is given when a pattern of learning difficulties characterized by problems with accurate or fluent work recognition, poor decoding, and poor spelling abilities. This Disorder is also known as dyslexia.
• Specific learning disorder, with impairment in writing:
  • This diagnosis, if warranted, is characterized by substantial and qualitative differences in spelling accuracy, grammar and punctuation accuracy, and clarity or organization of written expression. 
• Specific learning disorder, with impairment in math:
  • When warranted, this diagnosis is characterized by substantial and qualitative differences in number sense, memorization of arithmetic facts, accurate or fluent calculation, and accurate math reasoning skills. This disorder may also be referred to as dyscalculia

Firefly Diagnostics also provides comprehensive Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs). An IEE is a comprehensive evaluation approved and paid for by a child's school district or BOCES program, under specific circumstances. More information can be found on Page 5 of the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Procedural Safeguards Notice: www.cde.state.co.us/spedlaw/2011proceduralsafeguards.

Firefly Diagnostics also conducts intelligence and academic achievement testing for applications to independent schools and to gifted and talented programs.