What to Do If You Think Your Child May Have Autism: An Atlanta Pediatrician’s Guide
September 8 • 2026
Five years ago, Dr. Melissa Perrin-Hernandez might have seen one or two patients a month with concerns related to autism or a sensory developmental disorder. Today, as a pediatrician with Aylo Health, she sees that many in a single day.
“The numbers are skyrocketing,” she says, “and we are having to meet the need.”
If you’re a Georgia parent who has started to wonder whether your child’s behavior, communication style, or sensory reactions might point to autism, you’re far from alone. And you don’t have to figure out the next step by yourself. Here’s what Dr. Perrin-Hernandez has learned from being on the front lines of this shift, and how Aylo Health helps families move from “something feels off” to a clear plan.
Autism Concerns Aren’t Just a “Toddler” Conversation
One of the biggest misconceptions Dr. Perrin-Hernandez sees is that autism screening only applies to babies and toddlers. In her experience, that’s simply not the case anymore.
“We’re not only getting one-to-two-year-olds,” she explains. “We’re also getting elementary school, middle school, even some older high schoolers, where we think the things that you’re bringing to our complaint table are related to these disorders.”
In many of these cases, the family didn’t come in asking about autism at all; they came in with a concern about anxiety, school struggles, social difficulty, or sensory sensitivities. It’s often Dr. Perrin-Hernandez and her care team who first connect the dots and bring autism into the conversation.
The takeaway for parents: if your school-age child or teenager has ongoing struggles with social situations, sensory overwhelm, rigid routines, or communication, even if autism has never crossed your mind, it’s worth talking about with your pediatrician. You may not be the first to notice something, but you also don’t have to be the one who diagnoses it. That’s what your care team is for.
Pediatric Care at Every Age, Across the Metro Area
One reason Aylo Health can catch these concerns at every stage, from toddlers to teenagers, is that pediatric care is available across a wide age range at multiple locations throughout the Atlanta metro.
Aylo Health’s dedicated pediatric office in Ellenwood, GA sees patients from newborn through adulthood, making it a good fit for families who want continuity of care starting right from the hospital nursery. Providers you can see there are Dr. Melissa Perrin-Hernandez, and Ariana Bedford, CPNP-PC.
At Aylo Health’s other locations across the metro area, care is available for children ages 4 and up, so families in North and South Atlanta communities have a nearby option once their child reaches preschool age.
In the Suwanee area, we also have Dr. Rachel Lee who is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Internal Medicine. So, you and your entire family can be seen by the same doctor.
That range matters for autism-related care specifically, because as Dr. Perrin-Hernandez points out, concerns don’t stop showing up after toddlerhood. Having pediatric access from birth through the teenage years means the same care team can track a child’s development over time, notice patterns as they emerge, and refer out for evaluation whenever concerns arise, not just during well-baby visits.
Why Getting a Diagnosis Actually Matters
It’s natural for parents to feel hesitant about pursuing a formal diagnosis. Dr. Perrin-Hernandez hears that hesitation often, but she’s clear about why she encourages families to move forward anyway.
“It becomes harder to navigate the day-to-day life of someone who is undiagnosed,” she says, “because it looks like there’s something unsurmountable. But with the right diagnosis, with the right treatment, it’s something we can manage.”
Without a diagnosis, she notes; families are often left without a shared understanding of what’s happening, which creates tension at school and friction at home. With a diagnosis, families gain access to services, therapies, and school accommodations that can dramatically improve quality of life for the whole household.
That holds true even for children on the milder end of the spectrum. “There are really, really mild autistic patients who end up with a diagnosis but don’t need treatment or therapy, because they’re highly verbal, highly functioning,” Dr. Perrin-Hernandez says. “But even then, sometimes it’s, hey, they might not socialize the same as other people, so let’s figure out how to make socializing safe and comfortable for them.”
Her philosophy is simple: “It’s just a lot of knowledge that can make their life and their family’s life so much better. So, why not know?”
The Hardest Part: Getting an Actual Diagnosis
Demand for autism evaluations has grown so quickly across Georgia that even well-established diagnostic programs are stretched thin, and families can wait a couple of years for a comprehensive evaluation through the region’s larger pediatric health systems. It’s a reflection of just how much the need has grown, not a reflection of any one provider or system.
“The diagnosis is the hardest part,” Dr. Perrin-Hernandez says. “We find it really difficult sometimes to find people who are accepting new patients. Especially if you’re looking for something that’s nearby, you might end up needing to drive.”
That’s why, because Aylo Health isn’t tied to a single hospital system, Dr. Perrin-Hernandez and her colleagues have made it a priority to build relationships with independent therapists and diagnosticians throughout the community, including virtual evaluation options, so families have more than one path to a diagnosis, not just a faster one.
“We’re always looking for new resources for people we can use,” she says.
Coordinated Care Beyond the Diagnosis
A diagnosis is a starting point, not a finish line, and Dr. Perrin-Hernandez’s team thinks about the full picture of a child’s life, not just the visits that happen inside the office.
Getting services covered at school. One of the most valuable, and least understood parts of a diagnosis is what it can unlock at school. Once a child has a documented diagnosis, families can pursue an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan, which can open the door to classroom accommodations like extra time on tests, sensory breaks, speech or occupational therapy during the school day, a classroom aide, or modified assignments. Aylo Health’s pediatric team helps families understand which of these options may fit their child, provides the documentation schools require to start that process, and stays available to answer questions as a family works with their school’s special education staff. For many parents, knowing where to even start with the school system is half the battle and that’s exactly the kind of guidance Dr. Perrin-Hernandez and her colleagues aim to provide.
Building a trusted referral network. Beyond the diagnosis itself, the team has spent time deliberately building relationships with specialists who are experienced working with autistic patients and other sensory-sensitive kids, including therapists, diagnosticians, and even providers outside of traditional medical care, like dentists who know how to make an exam feel safe and manageable rather than overwhelming. If a family mentions a specialist who’s been a great fit for a child with sensory needs, that recommendation gets added to the referral list, so the next family benefits too.
Staying involved in the long run. Because Aylo Health pediatricians see kids over years, not just single visits, they’re able to follow up on how therapies are going, adjust referrals as a child’s needs change, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks between specialists, school staff, and home. The goal isn’t just a diagnosis, it’s a plan that actually works for that specific child and family, for as long as they need it.
What Aylo Health Parents Should Take Away
If you’ve been quietly wondering whether your child’s behavior might be more than “just a phase,” Dr. Perrin-Hernandez’s guidance boils down to a few clear points:
- Age doesn’t rule it out. Autism-related concerns show up at every age, from toddlers to teens.
- Care is available close to home, at every age. Aylo Health’s – Pediatrics at Ellenwood office sees patients from newborns on up, and all other Aylo Health locations see children ages 4 and up.
- You don’t have to have the answer, just raise the question. Bring your concerns to your pediatrician, even if you’re not sure they’re “autism related.”
- There’s more than one path to a diagnosis. Ask your pediatrician about community-based diagnosticians and virtual evaluation options alongside larger health-system referrals.
- A diagnosis is a tool, not a label. Even mild, high-functioning cases benefit from the clarity a diagnosis provides.
- Care doesn’t stop at diagnosis. Ongoing, coordinated support, including help navigating IEPs, 504 Plans, and school-based services, is part of the plan.
If you have concerns about your child’s development, social skills, communication, or sensory responses, Aylo Health’s pediatric team is here to listen, guide, and help you find the fastest path to answers.
Ready to talk to a pediatrician about your child’s development?