Your Child’s Autism Diagnosis Report, Explained

When my child was first diagnosed with autism, I remember clutching the autism diagnosis report like it was written in another language. In many ways, it was. Pages and pages filled with acronyms, numbers, “levels,” professional jargon, and even just words looked intimidating. Understanding your child’s autism diagnostic report is an important first step in becoming their best advocate. If you’re at the beginning of this journey, these 5 first steps for parents after an autism diagnosis can also guide you through those overwhelming early days.

Common Tests

ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition)

• What it is: A structured play-and-interaction session done by a trained clinician.
• How it works: The doctor or psychologist plays games, asks questions, and sets up small tasks to see how your child communicates, plays, and reacts socially.
• What it shows: Whether your child’s behaviors fit the characteristics of autism (like differences in social interaction, eye contact, pretend play, or repetitive behaviors).
• Parent tip: Think of it as a “social play session under a microscope.” My son loved the bubbles and toys during ADOS, and I was amazed how much insight doctors gained from play.

M-CHAT-R/F (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers)

• What it is: A short questionnaire for parents of toddlers (16–30 months).
• How it works: You answer yes/no questions about your child’s behaviors – things like pointing, eye contact, and pretend play. If certain red flags pop up, a follow-up interview may be done.
• What it shows: Flags behaviors that may need a full evaluation.
• Parent tip: This is usually a first step screening tool at the pediatrician’s office. It doesn’t diagnose – it just helps decide if a full autism diagnosis report is needed.

Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS-3)

• What it is: A caregiver interview or questionnaire about your child’s everyday skills.
• How it works: You answer questions about how your child eats, dresses, communicates, plays, follows routines, and manages emotions.
• What it shows: A profile of your child’s adaptive functioning—basically, how they manage life skills compared to other kids their age.
• Parent tip: This test helped me see where my son was stronger than I realized – like problem-solving at home – even though he was behind in other areas.

Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development

• What it is: A play-based test for children ages 1–42 months.
• How it works: A specialist guides your child through puzzles, stacking blocks, pointing to pictures, or naming objects, while observing how they move and respond.
• What it shows: Early development in areas like cognitive (thinking), language, and motor skills.
• Parent tip: This one feels a lot like preschool activities. Don’t stress if your child doesn’t “perform” on command—evaluators are trained to notice abilities even if kids are shy or distracted.

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V)

• What it is: An IQ test for children ages 6–16.
• How it works: The child does different tasks—solving puzzles, answering questions, remembering numbers, and recognizing patterns.
• What it shows: Strengths and challenges in areas like verbal understanding, working memory, and problem-solving.
• Parent tip: This test doesn’t measure “worth” or “potential.” For autistic kids especially, scores can vary widely depending on language or attention. My friend’s daughter had uneven scores—low in verbal reasoning but very high in visual-spatial puzzles—which actually helped guide the right supports. This is a key section in the autism diagnosis report.

Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2)

• What it is: A parent or teacher questionnaire about your child’s social behavior.
• How it works: You rate statements like “avoids eye contact” or “is aware of what others are thinking.”
• What it shows: The degree of social communication challenges and restricted/repetitive behaviors.
• Parent tip: Since it’s based on your answers, it captures how your child acts in real life, not just in a clinic setting. For me, filling this out was eye-opening because it highlighted behaviors I had normalized at home but were important to note.

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Breaking Down the Autism Diagnosis Report

1. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Levels

• Level 1: Requires support (sometimes called “high-functioning autism”).
• Level 2: Requires substantial support in communication and adapting to change.
• Level 3: Requires very substantial support in daily living.

⚠️ Important: These levels are not fixed for life. With therapy and growth, many kids’ support needs change over time. You can read more about how clinicians use these levels in the official DSM-5 criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder from the Autism Speaks.

2. Common Acronyms
The autism diagnosis report often look like alphabet soup. Here are some you might come across:

• SLP (Speech-Language Pathologist): The therapist who works on communication and language.
• OT (Occupational Therapist): Helps with daily living skills, fine motor skills, and sensory regulation.
• PT (Physical Therapist): Focuses on gross motor skills, strength, and coordination.
• ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis): A therapy that targets behavior and learning.
• IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan): Early intervention plan for ages 0–3.
• IEP (Individualized Education Program): Education plan for school-aged children (3+).

These acronyms will become familiar over time, almost second nature—but in the beginning, it helped me write them down in a notebook with definitions so I could reference them later. 

3. Assessment Scores
Autism diagnosis reports usually include test scores from developmental or psychological evaluations. You might see terms like percentile, standard score, or age-equivalent.

• Percentile: If your child is in the 25th percentile for language, it means they’re performing better than 25% of same-age peers.
• Standard Score: Usually centered at 100 as “average.” Scores below or above reflect differences compared to peers.
• Age-Equivalent: Shows the typical age level of skills (e.g., “language skills at a 24-month level”).

To be honest, these numbers can feel harsh, especially when they highlight delays. When I received the report, they made me feel small, and seemed so final, as if they were summing up my child in a way that didn’t match the curious, loving little person I knew at home.

Below is the actual report, where you can see the comparison between the scores given by his preschool teacher and the ones made by my husband and me-which, in this report, a higher number means greater risk (clinical impairment).

4. Strengths Matter Too
Many autism diagnosis reports list positives like: “strong visual memory,” “affectionate,” or “curious.” At first,  I was so fixated on the deficits that I skipped over it, but now I realize that strength is just as important as the challenges. It’s something we can build on.

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Tips for Parents Reading the Report

• Read It in Pieces – Don’t try to absorb everything at once. Highlight what you understand and come back later for the rest.
• Ask Questions – At your feedback session, bring a list of questions. Understanding your child’s autism diagnosis report fully is your right.
• Get a Second Explanation – Sometimes therapists or even other parents can explain the jargon more clearly than the report itself.
• Remember the Human – The autism diagnosis report is about your child, but it doesn’t capture their laugh, their quirks, or the way they light up when they see bubbles. Hold on to that image when the paper feels heavy.