How to Diagnose Autism

Autism, which is a bio-neurological disability that affects one's ability to interact and communicate with others, usually emerges in children by the age of 3. By being aware of the behavioral signs of autism, and by consulting with qualified health care professionals, you will be able to effectively diagnose autism.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Health care professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist or developmental pediatrician
• DSM-IV manual (Handbook for Differential Diagnosis)

Diagnose Autism

1. Learn to recognize behaviors that may indicate autism in a child. These behaviors include restricted use of spoken language to communicate, avoidance of eye contact, failure to become engaged in the activities of others, a failure to develop relationships with peers, repetitive use of language or other behavioral idiosyncrasies, a lack of imaginative or creative play and a preoccupation with objects or parts of objects. For a more specific detailing of autistic symptoms, check out the National Autism Association website (see Resources below).
2. Consult with a qualified health care professional for a diagnosis in accordance with the DSM-IV, the diagnostic handbook used as a reference for the mental health care industry (see Resources below). These professionals include psychiatrists, psychologists, developmental pediatricians and school psychologists.
3. Allow for testing by a qualified professional to determine if autism exists. Such tests include CARS (child autism rating scale), CHAT (checklist for autism in toddlers), ADOS (autistic diagnostic observation scale) and many others.
4. Have the parents of the autistic individual submit to an interview by a qualified professional to discuss family history, observed behaviors and any other information that could be used to help diagnose autism.
5. Rule out other similar mental disabilities such as Rett's Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder through further medical and psychological examination.
6. Diagnose autism by determining if observable behaviors meet the standards of the DSM-IV standards, using three specific categories: qualitative impairment in social interaction (the ability to interact with others), qualitative impairment in communication (the ability to use language effectively) and restricted repetitive and stereotyped behaviors and activities.

Tips & Warnings

• Children with autism can also develop many other physical ailments, such as asthma, allergies, digestive disorders, epilepsy and sleeping disorders. It is essential that an autistic child, therefore, be regularly treated by a pediatrician, as well as a developmental psychologist or psychiatrist. A developmental pediatrician may offer the best balance of services.