Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts the way people behave, learn, communicate, and interact with others. Common behaviors evident with ASD include social challenges, repetitive actions, and restricted or obsessive interests.
Parents or doctors may see evidence of subtle signs of the disorder as early as a child’s first birthday; however, symptoms are more commonly visible by age 2 or 3 and sometimes remain unnoticed until later when the child is at school with their peers. Diagnosis of ASD is notoriously difficult for a variety of reasons.
Complex Diagnostic Requirements
Autism is not a condition that can be quickly diagnosed with a blood test or a single office visit. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends universal screening of children at well-child checkups before age two.
If the screening shows an elevated likelihood of ASD, arrange a comprehensive evaluation with a pediatrician, neurologist, psychiatrist, or other qualified specialist. The process of conducting a full autism assessment includes the following steps:
Developmental Monitoring
Developmental monitoring takes place over time to measure the child’s developmental milestones in speaking, behaving, learning, moving, and playing. Children who lag on developmental charts require further testing.
Developmental Screening
This process involves a deeper dive into the child’s development by administering screening tools at scheduled well-child pediatric visits. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for ASD at 18 and 24 months. While this process does not result in a diagnosis, it can pinpoint children at higher risk.
Developmental Diagnosis
Formal assessment may be necessary if developmental monitoring and screening indicate an area of concern. This diagnostic process usually includes a structured test for the child and questionnaires for parents, other caregivers, and teachers.
Similar Symptoms as Other Conditions
Being a spectrum disorder, autism symptom attribution to other health conditions or disorders can occur. As a result, misdiagnosis is a common problem. The following signs of ASD can also be symptoms of other common childhood disorders.
- Difficulty making eye contact may be due to ADHD
- Social isolation and withdrawal could be due to anxiety disorders, selective mutism, intellectual disabilities, speech, and language issues, or reactive attachment disorder
- Repetitive behaviors (these are often associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD)
Access to Health Care
While autism spectrum disorder can occur in any individual regardless of gender, culture, race, or socioeconomic status, studies indicate that white children in higher economic brackets receive earlier and more consistent diagnoses than children of minority races in lower-income households. This gap in ASD diagnosis can result from a lack of access to information and healthcare, implicit bias in the screening processes, or existing problems in caregiver relationships.
Autism screeners such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) or the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS-2) can increase the opportunity for enhanced quality of life by identifying ASD risk factors and symptoms at an early age. Learn more about autism assessment tools and how they can help children by visiting WPS.