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Mar 31, 2022 · Diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be difficult because there is no medical test, like a blood test, to diagnose the disorder. Doctors look at the child’s developmental history and behavior to make a diagnosis. ASD can sometimes be detected at 18 months of age or younger. By age 2, a diagnosis by an experienced professional can be ...
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Jan 6, 2018 · Diagnosis. Your child's doctor will look for signs of developmental delays at regular checkups. If your child shows any symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, you'll likely be referred to a specialist who treats children with autism spectrum disorder, such as a child psychiatrist or psychologist, pediatric neurologist, or developmental pediatrician, for an evaluation.
- Developmental screening and early testing. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children get screened for developmental delays during their routine well-child visits at 9, 18, and 30 months old.
- Testing for autism. When a screening tool suggests developmental delays or signs of autism, your child’s pediatrician may refer you to a specialist. This can include a child psychologist or developmental pediatrician.
- Medical testing. Because some health conditions may be associated with autism, various medical tests might be necessary. These tools include: genetic testing, including the chromosomal microarray (CMA) that looks for extra or missing segments of DNA to diagnose chromosomal conditions, and a test for fragile X syndrome.
- Additional testing. According to guidelines from the AAP, it’s also critical to test for co-occurring conditions, which are common with autism. Autistic kids may have other challenges related to physical, cognitive, and mental health conditions, such as
Jan 26, 2023 · In the past, there were different diagnoses for autism but in 2013, the American Psychiatric Association merged four distinct autism diagnoses into one diagnosis: ASD. Included in this merge is what was originally known as autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive development disorder, and Asperger syndrome.
- Sherri Gordon
Jan 12, 2023 · Well-Child Visits. Pediatricians are the first step in the autism diagnosis process. Every child gets an assessment at their 18- and 24-month checkups to make sure they’re on track, even if they ...
Research shows that early intervention can provide the best outcomes. Even if your child is receiving services through early intervention or your school district, and their screening indicated an increased risk for autism, you do want to get a full evaluation. That evaluation may result in a diagnosis If you get a diagnosis of autism, you want ...
Jan 6, 2018 · Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. The disorder also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior. The term "spectrum" in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of ...
