Getting an Autism Diagnosis in Greenville, South Carolina

In the Upstate, Prisma Health offers developmental-behavioral pediatrics, a common route for children whose pediatrician has flagged developmental concerns. The Autism Spectrum Evaluation Team (ASET) provides multidisciplinary assessment, typically combining psychology, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy so families leave with a comprehensive report rather than a single opinion.

For children under three, the path is different and often faster to begin. BabyNet is South Carolina's Part C early-intervention system (administered through SCDHHS), and it does not require an autism diagnosis to start services. A parent, doctor, or caregiver can refer a child for a developmental evaluation, and if the child qualifies, early-intervention services begin while a formal diagnostic process continues in parallel.

Wait times for diagnostic evaluations can be long, sometimes many months, which is common across the country and in the Upstate. Once a child turns three, evaluation and services shift toward the school system: Greenville County Schools, and neighboring Spartanburg and Anderson County districts, conduct educational evaluations for eligibility, though a school "educational eligibility" is not identical to a medical diagnosis and the two serve different purposes.