ADHD Testing & Autism Evaluations for Children & Teens Ages 2.5-17 | Middlesex, NJ
In-person in Middlesex, NJ | Virtual throughout New Jersey and Florida
Neurodiversity affirming ADHD testing and Autism evaluations for children and teens ages 2.5 through 17 are available at True Reflections Mental Health Services in Middlesex, NJ. Evaluations are conducted in-person and virtually throughout New Jersey and Florida by Janine Kelly, LCSW, C-NDAAP, a certified neurodiversity affirming assessment practitioner specializing in girls, masking, and late-identified neurodivergence.
Your child is struggling. You can see it clearly, even when no one else does. Maybe teachers keep saying they are fine. Maybe a previous evaluation came back inconclusive. Maybe you have been told to wait and see. You are done waiting. You want real answers.
At True Reflections Mental Health Services, we offer comprehensive, neurodiversity affirming ADHD testing and Autism evaluations for children and teens ages 2.5 through 17 in Central New Jersey and Florida. Our evaluations are designed to find what others may have missed, and to give your child the clarity, the diagnosis, and the roadmap they deserve.
Appointments are currently available. No waitlist.
Does Your Child Need a 504 Plan or IEP? A Diagnosis Is the First Step.
If your child is struggling in school and you have been told they do not qualify for a 504 Plan or an IEP, a formal ADHD or Autism diagnosis may be exactly what is missing. Schools in New Jersey are required by law to provide accommodations to students with documented disabilities, but without a clinical diagnosis, many children are denied the support they need even when their struggles are clearly visible.
A comprehensive ADHD or Autism evaluation at True Reflections Mental Health Service provides the clinical documentation your child's school needs to begin the 504 or IEP process. Every evaluation report includes specific, individualized school accommodation recommendations written in language that supports your child's application. Parents consistently tell us that the evaluation report was the turning point in getting their child the help the school had previously denied.
If your child has been told they do not qualify, or if a previous evaluation came back inconclusive, a private evaluation may give you the answers and the documentation to change that outcome.
Is This Evaluation Right for Your Child or Teen?
Our ADHD testing and Autism evaluations are designed for children and teens who are struggling in ways that do not quite fit a simple explanation. You may be in the right place if your child or teen:
Is falling behind in school despite clearly being bright and capable
Is struggling socially and making and keeping friends feels harder than it should
Has meltdowns, shutdowns, or emotional outbursts that feel disproportionate to what triggered them
Has been diagnosed with anxiety or depression but treatment is not addressing the root cause
Has sensory sensitivities that interfere with daily life
Is masking at school and falling apart at home
Was told they do not qualify for an IEP or 504 Plan because there is no formal diagnosis
Had a previous evaluation that did not feel complete or accurate, especially if your child is a girl
A comprehensive, neurodiversity affirming ADHD or Autism evaluation can provide the answers you have been searching for and unlock the support your child needs to thrive.
What Your Child or Teen Will Receive From the Evaluation
A Comprehensive Written Report
Your full evaluation report (15 to 30 pages depending on the package) documents your child's complete neurodevelopmental profile, including their strengths, their challenges, and how their brain works across all areas of life including school, home, and social settings.
A Formal ADHD or Autism Diagnosis
If criteria are met, your child will receive a formal ADHD and/or Autism diagnosis on official True Reflections Mental Health Services letterhead, accepted by schools, physicians, and other providers throughout New Jersey and Florida.
School Accommodation Recommendations
Every evaluation report includes specific, individualized recommendations to support your child at school, including language to support IEP and 504 Plan applications. You will have everything you need to advocate for your child confidently at their next school meeting.
A Personalized Feedback Session
Once the evaluation is complete, we sit down together to go through your child's results in plain language. You will have the opportunity to ask every question you have. No report dropped in a portal and left unexplained. We process the results together, at your pace.
A Clear Path Forward
Recommendations extend beyond school. They include guidance on therapy, parenting strategies, sensory supports, community resources, and next steps for your child's overall wellbeing.
What an ADHD or Autism Evaluation Unlocks for Your Child
A formal ADHD or Autism diagnosis is not just a label. For children and teens, it is a key that opens doors to support that would otherwise remain closed.
IEP and 504 Plan Eligibility
Schools in New Jersey are required by law to provide appropriate accommodations to students with documented disabilities. Without a formal diagnosis, many children are denied the support they need even when their struggles are clearly visible. A comprehensive ADHD or Autism evaluation provides the clinical documentation schools need to evaluate your child for an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan. These plans can include extended time on tests, reduced homework load, preferential seating, sensory breaks, modified assignments, and much more.
Reduced Self-Blame and Shame
Children and teens who struggle without understanding why often internalize their difficulties as personal failure. They conclude that they are lazy, stupid, or broken. A diagnosis reframes that narrative entirely. When a child understands that their brain works differently, not deficiently, it changes how they see themselves. That shift in self-perception is often one of the most powerful outcomes of the entire evaluation process.
Access to the Right Therapy and Support
Many therapeutic approaches are most effective when the underlying neurodevelopmental profile is understood. A child receiving therapy for anxiety, for example, may respond very differently depending on whether they are autistic, have ADHD, or both. A comprehensive evaluation ensures that any therapy or support your child receives is matched to how their brain actually works, not a generic version of how children are assumed to work.
A Roadmap for Home and School
The recommendations included in every evaluation report are specific, practical, and immediately usable. Parents leave the feedback session knowing exactly what their child needs at home, what to ask for at school, and what the next steps look like. You will not leave with a diagnosis and no direction. You will leave with a plan.
Ages We Evaluate
Children Ages 2.5 and Up (Autism Evaluations)
Autism evaluations at True Reflections MHS begin at age 2.5. Early identification is one of the most important things a parent can do for a young child who may be autistic. The earlier a child receives an affirming Autism evaluation, the earlier they can access the right support, therapy, and understanding.
Children Ages 4 and Up (ADHD Evaluations)
ADHD evaluations are available for children starting at age 4. If your child is struggling with attention, impulse control, emotional regulation, or hyperactivity, a comprehensive ADHD evaluation can clarify what is happening and what support will help most.
Teens Ages 13 Through 17
Adolescence brings its own set of challenges for neurodivergent teens. Social demands increase, academic expectations intensify, and the pressure to fit in can lead to exhausting levels of masking. Many teens, particularly girls, reach their teens without ever having received an accurate ADHD or Autism evaluation. A diagnosis in adolescence can reduce self-blame, open the door to school accommodations, and provide a framework for understanding themselves that changes everything.
Specializing in ADHD and Autism in Girls
ADHD and Autism in girls is one of the most underdiagnosed presentations in mental health today. For decades, research and diagnostic criteria were built almost entirely around how ADHD and Autism present in boys. As a result, girls are missed, dismissed, and misdiagnosed at alarming rates.
How ADHD and Autism Present Differently in Girls
Girls with ADHD are often inattentive rather than hyperactive. They appear dreamy, disorganized, or emotionally sensitive rather than disruptive. Their struggles are frequently labeled as anxiety or low self-esteem rather than recognized as ADHD. Autistic girls often develop sophisticated masking strategies from a very young age, mirroring the social behavior of peers so convincingly that their Autism goes entirely undetected.
Signs ADHD or Autism May Have Been Missed in Your Daughter
Your daughter may have been told she is too sensitive or too emotional. She may have been diagnosed with anxiety but treatment has never quite worked. She may appear fine at school but fall apart at home. She may work twice as hard as her peers to keep up and have no idea why. She may have had a previous evaluation that came back without a clear diagnosis. If any of this sounds familiar, a specialized evaluation at True Reflections MHS may provide the answers you have been looking for.
Janine Kelly, LCSW, C-NDAAP has extensive training in identifying masking in girls and in recognizing the female presentation of ADHD and Autism. If your daughter has been overlooked before, this evaluation is designed to finally see her.
If you are a parent reading this at the end of a long day, running through the list of ways your daughter struggled this week and wondering if you are the only one who sees it, I want you to know: I see it too. You are not imagining it. And she deserves to finally have someone look past the mask and see her whole picture.
What Is AuDHD, and Could My Child Have Both?
AuDHD is the term many neurodivergent people use to describe having both Autism and ADHD at the same time. It is far more common than most people realize, and it is one of the most frequently missed combinations in children who have only been evaluated for one condition.
Children with AuDHD often receive a diagnosis of ADHD first, with Autism missed entirely, because their autistic traits are masked by their ADHD presentation, or vice versa. They may receive an Autism diagnosis while their ADHD goes unidentified because their attention difficulties are attributed to sensory overwhelm or anxiety rather than recognized as a separate and treatable condition.
At True Reflections MHS, our Comprehensive ADHD and Autism Evaluation looks at the full picture. We explore whether both may be present, because understanding the complete neurodevelopmental profile is what allows us to provide recommendations that actually match how your child's brain works.
If your child has already been diagnosed with ADHD and you suspect Autism may also be part of their profile, or if they carry an Autism diagnosis and you wonder whether ADHD is also a factor, an evaluation can finally provide the clarity you have been looking for.
Why I Do This Work
I struggled all throughout school, and no one ever figured out why.
I was bright. I worked hard. And still, something always felt harder for me than it seemed to be for everyone else. I didn’t get accommodations. I didn’t get answers. I just kept pushing through and quietly wondering what was wrong with me.
It wasn’t until I received my own ADHD and Autism diagnosis as an adult that so much of my life finally made sense. And honestly? My first feeling wasn’t relief. It was grief. Grief for all the years I spent masking, struggling, and believing I just wasn’t trying hard enough when what I actually needed was support that matched how my brain works.
That experience is the reason I do this work.
When I sit down with your child, I am not just running through a clinical checklist. I am thinking about who they are going to become, and whether they will have what they need to get there. A diagnosis opens doors like IEP and 504 Plan accommodations that can change the entire trajectory of a child’s school experience. I did not have those doors opened for me. I want every child I evaluate to have them.
If your child is struggling and you are not sure why, I want to help you find out.
Why Choose True Reflections MHS for Your Child's ADHD or Autism Evaluation?
Not all ADHD and Autism evaluations are created equal. The evaluator you choose matters enormously, not just for the accuracy of the results, but for how your child experiences the process and how your family feels walking out of the feedback session. Here is what sets True Reflections MHS apart.
Certified Neurodiversity Affirming Assessment Practitioner (C-NDAAP)
Janine Kelly holds the C-NDAAP certification, which designates advanced training in conducting ADHD and Autism evaluations through a neurodiversity affirming framework. This means your child's results are interpreted through a strengths-based lens, not a deficit-based one. The goal is understanding your child's unique neurodevelopmental profile, not pathologizing who they are.
Neurodivergent Clinician with Lived Experience
Janine received her own ADHD and Autism diagnosis later in life, after years of struggling through school without answers or accommodations.
That experience shapes every evaluation she conducts. She knows firsthand what it feels like to work twice as hard as everyone around you and still fall short, not because of effort or ability, but because your brain was never given the tools it needed. She knows what it costs a child to move through years of school without a diagnosis. And she knows how much changes when someone finally sees you clearly.
When Janine evaluates your child, she brings not just clinical training, but a deeply personal understanding of what is at stake. Getting the right answers early is not just about a piece of paper. It is about making sure your child does not spend their school years wondering what is wrong with them, because the truth is that nothing is wrong with them at all.
Specialized Training in Girls and Masking
Many evaluators miss ADHD and Autism in girls because their training is based on how these conditions present in boys. Janine has dedicated significant clinical training to understanding the female presentation of ADHD and Autism, including identifying sophisticated masking strategies that can fool evaluators without this expertise. If your daughter has been previously overlooked, this specialization matters.
Sensory-Friendly Office Designed for Neurodivergent Children
The True Reflections MHS office is thoughtfully designed with neurodivergent children in mind. Lighting and noise levels can be adjusted, toys and materials can be covered to reduce visual overwhelm, and flexible seating is available throughout. Testing sessions are structured to feel as comfortable and pressure-free as possible so your child can show up as their genuine self.
Collaborative Process
Parents are an essential part of the evaluation process. You will be involved from the intake appointment through the feedback session. For child evaluations, the intake appointment takes place with the parent first, before testing begins with your child. You are not a bystander in this process. You are a partner. As part of the evaluation, the school is also required to participate by completing standardized questionnaires that provide important insight into your child's functioning in the academic setting. This school-based information is a critical component of a comprehensive evaluation and ensures that your child's full picture is captured across all environments, not just at home.
Appointments Available Now
Many evaluation practices in New Jersey have waitlists of six months to over a year. At True Reflections MHS, appointments are typically available within one to two weeks of your initial inquiry. When your child is struggling, you should not have to wait a year to find out why. Reach out today and we can usually get started quickly.
A Genuinely Human Process
This is not a checklist handed to you in a portal. Every evaluation at True Reflections MHS begins with a real conversation, unfolds at your child's pace, and ends with a feedback session where your child's results are explained clearly, compassionately, and in full. You will not leave wondering what any of it means. You will leave with clarity.
The Evaluation Process
Step 1: Intake Appointment
For child and teen evaluations, the intake appointment takes place with the parent or guardian first. This 45 to 50 minute session is a conversation, not a checklist. Janine takes time to understand your child's developmental history, current challenges, school experiences, and your goals for the evaluation.
Step 2: Testing Sessions
Your child or teen will attend one to two testing sessions depending on the package selected. Sessions are two hours each and are designed to feel as comfortable and pressure-free as possible. Assessments are carefully selected based on your child's unique profile and the referral questions specific to their situation.
Step 3: Report Preparation
Following the testing sessions, a comprehensive written report is prepared documenting your child's full neurodevelopmental profile, diagnosis if criteria are met, and individualized recommendations for home, school, and daily life.
Step 4: Feedback Session
The final appointment is a 45 to 50 minute feedback session with the parent or guardian. Janine reviews the results in plain language, answers every question you have, and ensures you leave with a clear understanding of your child's profile and a confident sense of next steps.
Assessment Tools Used in Child and Teen Evaluations
Every evaluation at True Reflections MHS is individualized. Assessments are carefully selected based on your child's age, referral questions, and unique profile. Tools that may be used during a comprehensive ADHD and Autism evaluation include:
Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS-2)
Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition (MIGDAS-2)
Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2)
Conners 4th Edition (Conners 4)
Brown Executive Function/Attention Scales (Brown EF/A Scales)
Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS)
Delis-Rating of Executive Functions (D-REF)
Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3)
Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment, Second Edition (NEPSY-II)
Sensory Profile
The Comprehensive Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Third Edition
RCADS (Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale)
Clinical Assessment of Pragmatics (CAPs)
A Language Processing Skills Assessment (TAPS-4)
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Fourth Edition (WIAT-4)
California Verbal Learning Test, Third Edition (CVLT-3)
Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning, Third Edition (WRAML-3)
Reynolds Adaptable Intelligence Test (RAIT)
Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales, Second Edition (RIAS-2)
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-2)
Not all tools are used in every evaluation. Janine selects the most clinically appropriate instruments for each individual child based on their age, presentation, and the specific referral questions being addressed.
Evaluation Fees
Comprehensive ADHD & Autism Evaluation with IQ Testing: Includes a 20 to 30 page comprehensive report with recommendations and accommodations for home and school. Fee: $3,600 | $500 deposit required to schedule.
Comprehensive ADHD & Autism Evaluation with IQ Testing (Memorandum Only): Includes a memorandum of evaluation on True Reflections MHS letterhead. No full report. Fee: $2,600 | $500 deposit required to schedule.
ADHD or Autism Evaluation: Includes a 15 to 20 page comprehensive report with recommendations and accommodations for home and school. Fee: $2,600 | $500 deposit required to schedule. Additional $350 for IQ testing.
ADHD or Autism Evaluation (Memorandum Only): Includes a memorandum of evaluation on True Reflections MHS letterhead. No full report. Fee: $1,600 | $500 deposit required to schedule. Additional $350 for IQ testing.
Payment Plans Are Available
You do not have to pay the full amount upfront. A $500 deposit secures your appointments, with the remaining balance divided across the evaluation process so the financial commitment is spread over several weeks rather than due all at once.
Payment Plan
Payment may be made in full during the intake process, or divided across the evaluation as follows:
$500 deposit upon onboarding — secures your intake and testing appointments and begins the scheduling process
Half of the remaining balance due at the intake appointment
The final half of the remaining balance due the morning of the first testing day
Example: For a $2,600 evaluation, payments would be $500 at scheduling, $1,050 at intake, and $1,050 the morning of the first testing day.
True Reflections MHS does not bill insurance directly. A Superbill is provided after the feedback session for potential out-of-network insurance reimbursement.
Is a Private ADHD or Autism Evaluation Worth the Cost?
We understand that the cost of a private evaluation is a significant consideration. Here is what we want you to know.
The Cost of Not Knowing Is Higher Than You Think
For children, years without an ADHD or Autism diagnosis often mean years without the right support in school, falling further behind academically, losing confidence, and developing anxiety and shame around learning. A single comprehensive evaluation can unlock an IEP or 504 Plan that changes the entire trajectory of your child's school experience. The earlier your child receives an accurate diagnosis, the sooner the right support begins.
What You Are Investing In
A private evaluation at True Reflections MHS is not a one-size-fits-all checklist. It is a deeply personalized, clinically rigorous process conducted by a Certified Neurodiversity Affirming Assessment Practitioner with lived neurodivergent experience. Here is exactly what your investment includes:
A comprehensive, individualized ADHD or Autism evaluation conducted by a C-NDAAP certified clinician
A detailed written report (15 to 30 pages) with specific, actionable recommendations for school, home, and daily life
A formal ADHD or Autism diagnosis accepted by schools, employers, and medical providers throughout NJ and FL
A personalized feedback session where your results are explained clearly and compassionately
A Superbill provided after your feedback session for potential out-of-network insurance reimbursement
Frequently Asked Questions
-
A: Autism evaluations are available starting at age 2.5. ADHD evaluations begin at age 4. Both are available through age 17. For adults 18 and older, visit our adult evaluation page.
-
A: School evaluations are conducted by the school district and determine eligibility for school-based services only. They do not provide a clinical diagnosis. A private evaluation at True Reflections Mental Health Services provides a formal ADHD or Autism diagnosis along with a comprehensive, individualized report and recommendations. Many families pursue both: a private evaluation first, then use those results to advocate for services through the school.
-
A: Yes. As part of the evaluation process, the school is required to complete standardized questionnaires that provide insight into your child's functioning in the academic setting. This school-based information is a critical part of building a complete picture of your child across all environments.
-
A: True Reflections Mental Health Services is an out-of-network provider and does not bill insurance directly. A Superbill is provided after the feedback session that you can submit to your insurance company for potential partial reimbursement. Relevant CPT codes: 90791, 96136, 96137, 96130, and 96131.
-
A: Yes, and we strongly encourage it. ADHD and Autism co-occur far more often than most people realize. Many children carry one diagnosis without anyone ever exploring whether both are present. Our evaluations are designed to look at the full picture.
-
A: Absolutely. Re-evaluations are valid, increasingly common, and often necessary, particularly for girls. Many girls are missed in previous evaluations because the evaluator lacked specialized training in how ADHD and Autism present in females. Janine Kelly has extensive training in identifying masking in girls and in recognizing the female presentation of ADHD and Autism.
-
A: Even without a formal diagnosis, the evaluation still provides significant value. Your child will receive a detailed profile of their cognitive strengths and challenges, emotional and behavioral functioning, sensory processing, and individualized recommendations for support.
-
A: No referral is needed. You can request an appointment directly through our website at any time.
-
A: The full evaluation process from intake through the feedback session typically takes 4 to 6 weeks depending on scheduling availability.
Serving Children and Teens Throughout Central New Jersey
True Reflections Mental Health Services provides in-person ADHD testing and Autism evaluations for children and teens in Middlesex, NJ and the surrounding communities including Bridgewater, Bound Brook, Piscataway, Edison, Somerset, Manville, Dunellen, Watchung, Warren, Westfield, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Plainfield, North Plainfield, Green Brook, South Plainfield, Metuchen, New Brunswick, East Brunswick, Hillsborough, Somerville, Raritan, and Branchburg. Virtual evaluations are available throughout New Jersey and Florida.
Looking for adult ADHD and Autism evaluations? Visit our Adult Evaluation page at truereflectionsmhs.com/adhd-autism-evaluation-adults-nj.
Still have questions? Reach out at info@truereflectionsmhs.com