Diagnosing Autism

Diagnosing autism is not always easy, and the disorder may go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected children or when it is masked by more debilitating handicaps. Because of these difficulties, it is best to have a child evaluated by a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals experienced in diagnosing autism. When diagnosing autism, doctors rely on a core group of behaviors that are characteristic of this condition, such as the impaired ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others. An early step in diagnosing autism is testing the child's hearing, as hearing problems can cause behaviors often associated with autism.

 

Diagnosing Autism: An Overview

Autism varies widely in its severity and symptoms and may go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected children or when it is masked by more debilitating handicaps.
 

Diagnosing Autism: Behaviors

Doctors rely on a core group of behaviors when diagnosing autism.
 
These behaviors include:
 
  • Impaired ability to make friends with peers
  • Impaired ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others
  • Absence or impairment of imaginative and social play
  • Stereotyped, repetitive, or unusual use of language
  • Restricted patterns of interest that are abnormal in intensity or focus
  • Preoccupation with certain objects or subjects
  • Inflexible adherence to specific routines or rituals.
     
Doctors will often use a questionnaire or other screening instrument to gather information about a child's development and behavior. Some screening instruments rely solely on parent observations; others rely on a combination of parent and doctor observations. If screening instruments indicate the possibility of autism, doctors will ask for a more comprehensive evaluation.
 
(Diagnosing Autism Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD