<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<meta name="description" content="How to get an autism diagnosis in New Hampshire: where to get evaluated, real NH developmental clinics and phone numbers, wait times, free Birth to 3 options, and how to start in-home ABA fast with Achieving Stars Therapy.">
<title>How to Get an Autism Diagnosis in New Hampshire: Where to Get Evaluated, NH Clinics, Wait Times, Free Birth-to-3 Options, and How to Start ABA Fast | Achieving Stars Therapy</title>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.achievingstarstherapy.com/guide/how-to-get-autism-diagnosis-new-hampshire">
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com">
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin>
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=DM+Sans:wght@400;500;600&family=Fraunces:opsz,wght@9..144,500;9..144,600&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">
<style>:root { --white: #FFFFFF; --off-white: #F9FAFB; --gold: #F5A623; --gold-light: #FEF7E8; --navy: #1A2B4A; --navy-soft: #2D3E5F; --gray: #6B7280; --border: #E5E7EB; }
* { margin: 0; padding: 0; box-sizing: border-box; }
body { font-family: 'DM Sans', system-ui, sans-serif; background: var(--off-white); color: var(--navy); line-height: 1.7; font-size: 17px; }
h1 { font-family: 'Fraunces', Georgia, serif; font-size: clamp(28px, 6vw, 42px); font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.15; color: var(--white); margin-bottom: 16px; }
h2 { font-family: 'Fraunces', serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 600; color: var(--navy); margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 8px; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--gold); }
h3 { font-family: 'Fraunces', serif; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 600; color: var(--navy); margin: 24px 0 10px; }
p { margin-bottom: 14px; color: var(--navy-soft); }
a { color: var(--gold); font-weight: 500; text-decoration: underline; text-underline-offset: 2px; }
a:hover { color: var(--navy); }
ul, ol { margin: 14px 0; padding-left: 24px; }
li { margin-bottom: 8px; color: var(--navy-soft); }
strong { color: var(--navy); }
table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 18px 0; font-size: 15px; }
th, td { padding: 10px 12px; text-align: left; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border); vertical-align: top; }
th { background: var(--gold-light); color: var(--navy); font-weight: 600; font-family: 'Fraunces', serif; }
tr:hover { background: var(--off-white); }
.table-wrap { overflow-x: auto; margin: 18px 0; }
.table-wrap table { margin: 0; }
.hero { background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--navy) 0%, var(--navy-soft) 100%); padding: 130px 24px 48px; text-align: center; }
.hero-inner { max-width: 720px; margin: 0 auto; }
.location-badge { display: inline-block; background: var(--gold); color: var(--navy); font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 0.06em; text-transform: uppercase; padding: 6px 14px; border-radius: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; }
.hero p { font-size: 18px; color: rgba(255,255,255,0.85); line-height: 1.7; max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto; }
.quick-info { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(140px, 1fr)); gap: 16px; background: var(--white); border-radius: 12px; padding: 24px; margin: -32px auto 32px; max-width: 800px; box-shadow: 0 4px 20px rgba(26,43,74,0.08); position: relative; z-index: 10; }
.info-item { text-align: center; }
.info-label { font-size: 12px; color: var(--gray); text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em; margin-bottom: 4px; }
.info-value { font-size: 15px; font-weight: 600; color: var(--navy); }
.content { max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 24px 24px 72px; }
section { margin-bottom: 36px; }
.highlight-box { background: var(--gold-light); border-left: 4px solid var(--gold); border-radius: 0 10px 10px 0; padding: 18px 22px; margin: 20px 0; }
.highlight-box p { margin: 0; color: var(--navy); }
.faq-item { margin-bottom: 22px; }
.faq-item h3 { font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 8px; }
.faq-item p { font-size: 16px; }
.disclaimer { font-size: 13px; color: var(--gray); font-style: italic; margin-top: 20px; padding: 12px; background: var(--off-white); border-radius: 8px; }
.cta-section { background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--navy) 0%, var(--navy-soft) 100%); border-radius: 16px; padding: 40px 32px; text-align: center; margin-top: 36px; }
.cta-section h2 { color: var(--white); border: none; padding: 0; margin-bottom: 12px; font-size: 26px; }
.cta-section p { color: rgba(255,255,255,0.9); margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: 17px; }
.cta-section strong { color: var(--gold); }
.cta-button { display: inline-block; background: var(--gold); color: var(--navy); font-weight: 600; font-size: 16px; padding: 14px 32px; border-radius: 8px; text-decoration: none; margin-top: 20px; }
.cta-button:hover { color: var(--navy); }
.cta-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(200px, 1fr)); gap: 16px; margin-top: 20px; }
.cta-item { background: rgba(255,255,255,0.1); border-radius: 10px; padding: 18px; min-width: 0; }
.cta-item-label { font-size: 12px; color: var(--gold); text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em; margin-bottom: 6px; }
.cta-item-value { color: var(--white); font-weight: 600; font-size: 15px; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: anywhere; min-width: 0; }
.cta-item-value a { color: var(--white); text-decoration: none; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: anywhere; }
.cta-item-value a:hover { color: var(--gold); }
@media (max-width: 600px) { .quick-info { margin: -24px 16px 24px; grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); } .cta-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } table { font-size: 13px; } th, td { padding: 6px 8px; } }
.hero,.ash-hero,.ash-loc-page .ash-hero{padding-top:130px !important}</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="hero"><div class="hero-inner"><span class="location-badge">New Hampshire Guide</span><h1>How to Get an Autism Diagnosis in New Hampshire</h1><p>New Hampshire families have three real paths to an autism evaluation: a hospital developmental team, a private neuropsychologist, or the state's free Birth to 3 program for children under three. Achieving Stars Therapy helps NH parents find the right one, then starts in-home ABA once a diagnosis is in hand.</p></div></div>
<div class="quick-info"><div class="info-item"><div class="info-label">Screening Starts</div><div class="info-value">18 Months</div></div><div class="info-item"><div class="info-label">Under Age 3</div><div class="info-value">Free: Birth to 3</div></div><div class="info-item"><div class="info-label">Typical Wait</div><div class="info-value">2 to 8 Months</div></div><div class="info-item"><div class="info-label">To Start ABA</div><div class="info-value">Diagnosis Needed</div></div></div>
<div class="content">
<section><p>An autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis in New Hampshire comes from a developmental pediatrician, a psychologist, or a neuropsychologist, not usually your regular pediatrician. The pediatrician screens and refers. The formal diagnosis happens at a clinic that runs a comprehensive evaluation, often using a tool called the ADOS-2. This guide covers where to go, how long the wait runs, and how to start therapy fast once you have it.</p>
<div class="highlight-box"><p>This is not a small-numbers state. About <strong>4.2% of NH parents report a child diagnosed with autism</strong>, higher than the national average (National Survey of Children's Health). Nationally, the CDC now puts autism at 1 in 31 children.</p></div></section>
<section><h2>Where do you actually start?</h2><p>Start with the pediatrician, but do not stop there. At the 18-month and 24-month checkups, most NH pediatricians run a quick screen called the M-CHAT-R. The AAP recommends autism-specific screening at exactly those two visits. A red flag on that screen gets your child referred for a full evaluation.</p><p>You can also skip ahead. Any NH parent can self-refer to the state's early-intervention program without a doctor's note, covered below. You do not have to wait for permission to act.</p></section>
<section><h2>Who diagnoses autism in New Hampshire?</h2><p>A handful of NH clinics and hospitals do the actual diagnostic evaluation. The gold-standard tool most of them use is the ADOS-2, an in-person observation session. Here are real, currently operating options across the state.</p>
<div class="table-wrap"><table>
<thead><tr><th>Where to go</th><th>Location</th><th>What they do</th><th>Phone</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td>Dartmouth Health Children's (BANDS team)</td><td>Lebanon</td><td>Multidisciplinary autism diagnosis; physician referral needed</td><td>(603) 650-7075</td></tr>
<tr><td>Elliot Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics</td><td>Manchester</td><td>Evaluates birth to 12 for autism and ADHD</td><td>(603) 663-3222</td></tr>
<tr><td>Amoskeag Health Child Development Clinics</td><td>Manchester, Keene, Lakes Region</td><td>State-network evaluations, ages 0 to 6</td><td>(603) 296-9249</td></tr>
<tr><td>Autism Care Partners</td><td>Bedford, Concord</td><td>Diagnostic evaluations plus ABA</td><td>(800) 679-3609</td></tr>
<tr><td>Katalyst Psychological Family Center</td><td>Manchester</td><td>Neuropsychological evaluations, including autism</td><td>(603) 206-5844</td></tr>
<tr><td>Portsmouth Neuropsychology Center</td><td>Portsmouth</td><td>Neuropsychological autism evaluations</td><td>(603) 433-0800</td></tr>
<tr><td>Neurodevelopment Institute of NH</td><td>Hooksett, Gorham</td><td>Neurodevelopmental evaluations, all ages</td><td>(603) 621-9870</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table></div>
<p>Hospital programs like Dartmouth's BANDS need a referral from your child's doctor. Several private neuropsychologists take families directly. Call the intake line and ask what they need.</p></section>
<section><h2>How long is the wait in New Hampshire?</h2><p>It depends on your child's age. A developmental pediatrician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock told New Hampshire Magazine that children under 3 can usually be seen within about two months, while older children often wait six to eight months for a developmental-pediatrics slot. Private neuropsychologists vary, and some carry their own <a href="/guide/autism-evaluation-wait-times-new-hampshire">waitlist</a>.</p><p>The waits are real. One NH mom on the r/newhampshire forum said her son's autism evaluation in Manchester had a long waitlist, but insurance covered it fully. That gap is exactly why the next question matters.</p></section>
<section><h2>Can your child start therapy before the diagnosis is final?</h2><p>Sometimes, yes. If your child is under three, New Hampshire's Family-Centered Early Supports and Services, usually called <a href="https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disability-care/developmental-services/birth-3-family-centered-early-supports" rel="noopener">Birth to 3</a>, can begin support based on a developmental delay alone, with no autism diagnosis required. It is free, and any parent can self-refer by calling (603) 271-4488. Read the <a href="/guide/early-intervention-new-hampshire">NH early intervention guide</a> for how that works.</p><p>ABA therapy is different. To bill Medicaid or private insurance for ABA, a formal autism diagnosis almost always has to be on file first. Achieving Stars Therapy verifies that during intake and points families who are still waiting toward the right evaluation. See <a href="/guide/start-aba-without-diagnosis-new-hampshire">starting ABA without a full diagnosis in NH</a> for the details.</p></section>
<section><h2>Does insurance cover the evaluation and ABA?</h2><p>Usually. New Hampshire's Connor's Law (RSA 417-E) requires state-regulated insurance plans to cover autism treatment, including applied behavior analysis (ABA), an evidence-based therapy. NH Medicaid covers ABA through its EPSDT benefit and its two health plans, Well Sense and NH Healthy Families, with prior approval. The <a href="/guide/aba-therapy-medicaid-new-hampshire">NH Medicaid guide</a> breaks that down.</p><p>Private-pay evaluations exist too if you want to skip a waitlist, though they can run into the thousands. Achieving Stars Therapy checks your Medicaid or insurance benefits for free before anything begins.</p></section>
<section><h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
<div class="faq-item"><h3>Does my pediatrician diagnose autism?</h3><p>Usually not. Pediatricians screen and refer. The formal diagnosis comes from a developmental pediatrician, a psychologist, or a neuropsychologist, often using the <a href="/aba-therapy-resources/what-is-an-ados-2-assessment">ADOS-2 assessment</a>.</p></div>
<div class="faq-item"><h3>What age should screening start?</h3><p>The AAP recommends autism-specific screening at the 18-month and 24-month checkups. The CDC says signs can appear as early as 18 months, and a reliable diagnosis is possible by age 2. Achieving Stars Therapy serves children as young as 18 months.</p></div>
<div class="faq-item"><h3>Do I need a referral for an evaluation?</h3><p>It depends on the provider. Hospital programs like Dartmouth's BANDS need a physician referral. Many private neuropsychologists and the state's Birth to 3 program do not. Call the intake line and ask before you book.</p></div>
<div class="faq-item"><h3>Does Achieving Stars Therapy diagnose autism?</h3><p>No. Achieving Stars Therapy provides in-home ABA therapy after a diagnosis. The intake team knows the New Hampshire evaluation options, can help you find a provider, and checks your coverage.</p></div>
<div class="faq-item"><h3>How fast can ABA start once we have a diagnosis?</h3><p>Fast. Most families begin in-home ABA with Achieving Stars Therapy within one to two weeks, with no waitlist. See <a href="/guide/what-to-do-after-autism-diagnosis-new-hampshire">what to do after an autism diagnosis in NH</a>.</p></div>
</section>
<div class="cta-section">
<h2>Start In-Home ABA in New Hampshire</h2>
<p>Have a diagnosis, or close to one? Achieving Stars Therapy starts <a href="/location/states/aba-therapy-new-hampshire" style="color:var(--gold)">in-home ABA across New Hampshire</a> with no waitlist. Free benefits check first.</p>
<a href="https://www.achievingstarstherapy.com/contact" class="cta-button">Book Your Free Benefits Check</a>
<div class="cta-grid">
<div class="cta-item"><div class="cta-item-label">Call</div><div class="cta-item-value"><a href="tel:8336663115">(833) 666-3115</a></div></div>
<div class="cta-item"><div class="cta-item-label">Email</div><div class="cta-item-value"><a href="mailto:info@achievingstarstherapy.com">info@achievingstarstherapy.com</a></div></div>
<div class="cta-item"><div class="cta-item-label">Ages</div><div class="cta-item-value">18 months to 15 years</div></div>
</div>
<p class="cta-note">Free benefits check. BCBA-led care, in-home, 8am to 8pm.</p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>
