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Ep. 226: Is It Autism? Recognizing, Assessing & Supporting Children and Teens with Dr. Chandni Singh

Release Date: 02/25/2025

Ep. 232: Turning Kids’ Passions and Enthusiasms into Superpowers with Barry Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Re-Air)

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are doing a reairing this week of of Diverse Thinking Different Learning in which we talked with . This episode is being revisited at a perfect time because this is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. In this episode, Dr. Prizant helps us understand why it’s important to stop labeling certain behaviors in children as intentional defiance or difficulty. Dr. Barry Prizant is a speech-language pathologist with nearly five decades of experience working with individuals with autism and their families. He serves as a Visiting Scholar at Brown University and directs Childhood Communication...

Ep. 231: How to Use Students’ Interest and Creativity to Enhance Learning with Victoria Waller, Ed.D.

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are so happy to be welcoming back to the podcast this episode. Dr. Waller is a seasoned reading specialist and educational therapist with more than four decades of experience helping children with learning differences, especially ones who teachers have sadly given up on. She is the author of , a finalist for the Foreword Reviews Best Book of the Year in 2022, and has received multiple accolades for her contributions to education. Holding advanced degrees in reading and learning differences, she has shared her expertise nationwide and internationally via speaking engagements and on...

Ep. 230: Executive Functioning & Navigating the Yearly Calendar with Michelle Porjes

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are honored to welcome returning guest Michelle Porjes to the show for this episode. Michelle is a licensed educational psychologist and credentialed school psychologist in California with over twenty-five years of experience in education. She holds advanced degrees in Educational and School Psychology from the University of Denver and the University of South Florida, specializing in learning, emotional, and behavioral assessments, as well as teacher coaching and program development. Michelle runs an executive function practice and has authored two e-books on the topic. Michelle joins us in...

Ep. 229: Boosting a Child’s Autonomy with Self-Care Routines with Kristin Lombardi, MA, BCBA & Christine Drew, PhD, BCBA-D

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

For this episode of Diverse Thinking Different Learning, we are excited to welcome two guests - Kristin Lombardi, MA, BCBA and Christine Drew, PhD, BCBA-D! Kristin Lombardi, MA, BCBA, is a behavior analyst specializing in helping children and families build independent living skills through her private practice in Locust Valley, New York. With expertise in special education, psychology, and behavior analysis, Kristin supports individuals from early childhood through young adulthood, customizing her approach to a range of developmental and support needs. Dr. Christine Drew, PhD, BCBA-D, is an...

Ep. 228: Understanding Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) with Dr. Samantha Levy

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are excited to have Samantha Levy, PhD join the show again this week to discuss Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). Dr. Samantha Levy is a clinical psychologist specializing in youth with chronic pain disorders. She uses a biopsychosocial approach to address both physical and emotional struggles, working with children, families, and parents to help them align the mind and body for improved functioning. Dr. Levy also runs parent groups, writes a parenting blog for , and works as a psychologist for Whole Child LA. Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a condition in which often...

Ep. 227: Teen Depression Gone Viral with Dr. Meredith Gansner

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are joined this week by . Dr. Gansner is a child psychiatrist at Boston Children’s Hospital and an instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, specializing in high-risk digital media use in teens. She has received multiple research grants, including a K23 career development award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and she is an active member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry media committee. Her first book, , explores the challenges of treating adolescent depression in the digital age. In this episode, Dr. Meredith Gansner discusses depression in...

Ep. 226: Is It Autism? Recognizing, Assessing & Supporting Children and Teens with Dr. Chandni Singh

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

Ep. 225: Moving Beyond Accommodations and Modifications to Cognitive Change for Academic Gains with Shelley Woon

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

This week on the podcast, we welcome Shelley Woon to the conversation. Shelley is a dedicated educator and school leader with over three decades of experience supporting students, families, and staff in overcoming learning challenges. She holds a Master of Education in Leadership, has specialized qualifications in Special Education and Reading, and serves as Head of School at and Superintendent of Special Education. Shelley values the brain-learning connection and is committed to helping others unlock their potential. Shelley joins us to explore how we can move beyond compensatory strategies...

Ep. 224: Should I Medicate My Child? – Part 2 with Lance Steinberg, M.D.

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

Following up on last week’s episode, we are joined once again by , M.D. to further discuss the complex issue of medicating children with conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and if you missed part 1 of the discussion, be sure to go back and listen to that before diving into part 2! In this continuation of our discussion, Dr. Steinberg sheds more light on the approach that is required when considering medication, stressing that a thoughtful evaluation is important before immediately jumping to medical solutions. Dr. Steinberg offers some insights into the FDA-approved medications,...

Ep. 223: Should I Medicate My Child? – Part 1 with Lance Steinberg, M.D.

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are joined this week by , M.D. Dr. Steinberg is an expert in psychopharmacology, specializing in conditions such as OCD, ADHD, and autism. He has taught internationally and at institutions like UCLA, earning multiple awards for his outstanding teaching. He completed his medical training at Dartmouth, UCLA, and Stanford, and he currently practices in Calabasas, Encino, and Valencia. Dr. Steinberg joins us today in this first part of a two-part episode to discuss managing medication for youth with conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression. We discuss the important factors parents...

More Episodes

This week on the podcast, we are happy to have Dr. Chandni Singh on the show. Dr. Singh is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than a decade of experience in diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions in children, adolescents, and young adults. She is committed to providing evidence-based assessments and tailored treatment recommendations, and she strongly focuses on serving culturally and ethnically diverse communities. At West LA Neuropsychology, PC, she specializes in early diagnostic evaluations for young children and comprehensive assessments for school-aged children with neurodevelopmental challenges and co-existing mood disorders.

While assessments can feel overwhelming for parents and educators who suspect that a child might be autistic, Dr. Chandni Singh breaks down the assessment process, from recognizing early signs to understanding why some children are diagnosed later than others. She explains how social and emotional challenges often become more noticeable as kids get older and why autistic traits can be mistaken for anxiety, ADHD, or other conditions.

Dr. Singh also sheds some light on the gold standard tools used in evaluations, including the ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), which creates structured social scenarios to observe how a child interacts. We discuss the importance of gathering input from multiple sources such as parents, teachers, and the children themselves to get a full picture of their strengths and challenges.

This episode of the podcast also explores the lived experiences of autistic children and teens, with Dr. Singh highlighting the role of masking, where kids adjust their behavior to fit in but often experience exhaustion and distress as a result. She also discusses the impact of cultural background on both receiving and understanding an autism diagnosis.

Show Notes:

[3:04] - Dr. Singh explains how autism diagnoses are often delayed because early strengths can mask challenges.
[5:03] - Social difficulties in children can stem from autism, ADHD, anxiety, or overlapping conditions.
[8:50] - Autistic teens often withdraw socially, reinforcing isolation, low mood, and struggles in school.
[10:45] - Parents often seek autism assessments after noticing persistent behavioral, emotional, or communication challenges.
[13:44] - Dr. Singh points out how increased school refusal often signals deeper emotional or social struggles.
[16:13] - Dr. Singh discusses and explains the ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule).
[19:57] - One-on-one evaluations can provide important insights into a child's social world and emotional experiences.
[22:35] - Comprehensive autism assessments include IQ tests, behavioral observations, and parent-teacher scales.
[25:05] - Cultural background, values, and parenting styles shape families' understanding of autism.
[27:01] - Dr. Singh discusses how families and schools increasingly embrace neurodivergence, reducing stigma.
[30:43] - Many parents seek guidance on supporting their child's development rather than just seeking a diagnosis.
[31:34] - Providing support includes therapy, and school and community recommendations customized to individual needs.
[34:12] - Autism support tends to focus on therapeutic tools, school accommodations, and social skills.
[38:24] - Autism assessments can strengthen parent-child relationships by leading to understanding.

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