Susan D. Mayes, PhD

About Me

Susan Mayes, PhD, is Chief Psychologist and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Penn State College of Medicine. Dr. Mayes earned her BA from Mount Holyoke College and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Mayes is a certified school psychologist, licensed psychologist, and former elementary and special education teacher. She has 39 years experience with children who have autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Mayes has evaluated over 3,000 children in her diagnostic clinic, and has earned awards for scoring at the 99th percentile in patient satisfaction. She has published over 75 articles on the diagnosis, treatment, and psychological functioning of children with autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental disorders and has published diagnostic instruments, including the Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Mayes Hyperactivity Observation System.

Dr. Mayes has been invited to speak at national conferences, has presented at over 50 scientific meetings, and wrote the lead chapter for the book Learning and Behavior Problems in Asperger Syndrome. Dr. Mayes is on the editorial board for Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders and serves as a reviewer for several other journals. Dr. Mayes was a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Autism Assessment and Diagnosis Expert Work Group and a member of the Assessment Work Group jointly sponsored by DPW and Pennsylvania Department of Education. Dr. Mayes is also the autism spokesperson in the autism awareness DVDs developed by the Bureau of Autism Services.