?How Is Autism Diagnosed
Presently, we don’t have a medical test that can diagnose autism.
Instead, specially trained physicians and psychologists administer
autism-specific behavioral evaluations.
Often parents are the first to notice that their child is showing
unusual behaviors such as failing to make eye contact, not responding to
his or her name or playing with toys in unusual, repetitive ways. For a
description of early indicators of autism, see Learn the Signs.
The Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)
is a list of informative questions about your child. The answers can
indicate whether he or she should be further evaluated by a specialist
such as a developmental pediatrician, neurologist, psychiatrist or
psychologist. (Take the M-CHAT here.)
We encourage parents to trust their instincts and find a doctor who
will listen and refer their child to appropriate specialists for
diagnosis. Unfortunately, doctors unfamiliar with diagnosing autism
sometimes dismiss parent concerns, delaying diagnosis and the
opportunity for early intervention therapies. Autism Speaks and other
autism organizations are working hard to raise awareness of early signs
among physicians as well as parents.
From birth to at least 36 months of age, every child should be
screened for developmental milestones during routine well visits. When
such a screening—or a parent—raises concerns about a child's
development, the doctor should refer the child to a specialist in
developmental evaluation and early intervention. These evaluations
should include hearing and lead exposure tests as well as an
autism-specific screening tool such as the M-CHAT. Among these screening
tools are several geared to older children and/or specific autism
spectrum disorders. (Also see our pages on What Is Autism?, Asperger Syndrome and PDD-NOS.)
A typical diagnostic evaluation involves a multi-disciplinary team of
doctors including a pediatrician, psychologist, speech and language
pathologist and occupational therapist. Genetic testing may likewise be
recommended, as well as screening for related medical issues such as
sleep difficulties. This type of comprehensive helps parents understand
as much as possible about their child's strengths and needs. (For local
and regional centers specializing in the coordinated medical care of
children and adolescents with autism, explore our Autism Treatment Network and visit our Resources page)
Sometimes an autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed later in life,
often in relation to learning, social or emotional difficulties. As with
young children, diagnosis of adolescents and adults involves personal
observation and interview by a trained specialist. Often, a diagnosis
brings relief to those who have long struggled with difficulties in
relating socially while not understanding the source of their
difficulties. A diagnosis can also open access to therapies and
assistive technologies that can improve function in areas of difficulty
and, so, improve overall quality of life. (Learn more about Adult Services here.)
DSM-5 (DSM-V)
The American Psychiatric Association is currently revising the
medical definition of autism spectrum disorder in ways that are
expected to change its diagnostic characteristics. This change will go
into effect in May 2013. Stay tuned for more information!
For more information and resources, please see our Video Glossary and FAQs and special sections on Symptoms, Learn the Signs, Treatment, Your Child’s Rights, Asperger Syndrome and PDD-NOS. We also offer a number of resource-packed tool kits for free download (here and here). They include our 100 Day Kit for families who have a child recently diagnosed with autism. These resources are made possible through the generous support of our families, volunteers and other donors.
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