An autism diagnosis can still be difficult to obtain despite the studies that have helped people better understand autism. The reason is because there are many factors that need to be considered when making a diagnosis.
First of all, there is more than one type of autism disorder and there are other disabilities that are closely related to autism such as Asperger's Syndrome and Pervasive Development Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Second, autism is particularly difficult to diagnose in young children, due to the fact that they are still developing speech and reasoning skills.
Therefore, since an autism diagnosis can be a challenge, as a parent, it is essential that you have your child's development, social and communication skills properly evaluated and accessed by a doctor.
How is autism diagnosed? Usually an autism diagnosis is made when a person shows signs of 6 or more of 12 specific symptoms characteristic of the disorder. The 12 main symptoms are focused in three primary areas -
1. Social interaction - Autistics generally have little interest in others and pay little or no attention to those who may be present in the room with them, regardless of their age. They do not seek comfort if they are troubled or hurt and prefer to be on their own. On the other hand, autistics that do show an interest in social interaction have difficulty initiating contact with others and developing friendships. It is also common for an autistic to avoid eye contact.
2. Behavior - Most autistics find change and new situations to be incredibly stressful. In addition, they tend to develop unusual rituals or routines and repetitious physical gestures such as rocking back and forth, flapping the hands, etc.
3. Communication - It is estimated that 50% of those diagnosed with autism are unable to develop speech, and those who do cannot engage in long conversations unless they are based on extremely specific topics insisted upon by the autistic. Autistics often tend to echo words or phrases and have difficulty with pitch and changing the inflection of their tone.
There should be at least 2 symptoms present from social interaction, and at least one symptom from both behavior and communication for an autism diagnosis to be made. Hence, if a person exhibits some of the symptoms, but does not meet the criteria for an autism disorder, they may then be diagnosed with another similar disability such as Asperger's syndrome or PDD-NOS.
The following are 5 tips parents can keep in mind when talking with a health care provider to ensure their child receives a proper evaluation:
1. Find out everything there is to known about autism - In order to talk to doctors and receive the most effective evaluation of your child, you need to educate yourself about autism and know what to ask. You should never seek an autism diagnosis if you have no idea what the condition is all about. This will make it easier for a doctor to generate a wrong diagnosis.
2. Analyze your child's behaviour - Based on the information regarding social interaction, behaviour and communication above, carefully analyze and make note of your child's behaviour in a journal. Study how your child interacts with others and present your findings to the doctor.
3. Find a health care professional who is experienced with autism diagnosis - It is important to find someone who has had experience in autism diagnosis. You should not rely on the advice or diagnosis of a doctor who is not specialized in this field. The best way to find a doctor is to locate a local support group and find out what doctors other parents take their autistic children to.
4. Ask questions - Asking and answering questions is part of effective evaluation. The more information you obtain and the more detailed answers you can provide your doctor about your child's behaviour helps assist in diagnosis.
5. Get a second opinion - If you don't agree with a doctor's opinion or want more assurance, don't be afraid to question the doctor's diagnosis or treatment recommendations, and seek the advice of another health care provider. Doctors are human beings, and can be wrong. Consulting with other doctors is not a bad idea.
Keep in mind that evaluation and assessment is not a fast process and is ongoing, even after an autism diagnosis is determined.
Related Articles
How To Have A More Balanced Autism Diet
By: Rachel Evans | 03/05/2007 | Health
Many children who have autism are deemed to be picky eaters. Though this might just seem like another behavioral problem, the truth is that there are many reasons why this might happen. Some medical problems could be the root cause of the fussy eating, but it might mean talking and...
Unique Autism Experiments Offer Parents Hope
By: Rachel Evans | 22/05/2007 | Health
Every year, the number of autism sufferers rises around the globe, and as a reaction to this growth, the medical industry and the alternative medicine industry have both reacted by taking on this mental disorder through an array of different forms of autism experiments. These tests come in many...
Is My Child Autistic?
By: Sheryl Polomka | 30/04/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Children develop at different rates and no two children are the same and if a child is slow at reaching some milestones parents will often get concerned that their child may have a medical condition such as Autism. So how do you know if your child is Autistic?
Children with Autism and P.E.C.S. Is It Any Good?
By: Alan Yau | 29/09/2006 | Non-Fiction
I've been using the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) with children for a number of years now and have found it to be very useful for some, though by no means, all children.
5 Simple And Effective Autism Strategies For Parents
By: Rachel Evans | 22/05/2007 | Health
No parent wants their child to be autistic, but for those parents who are faced with a child who has autism, relief can be found by applying the some autism strategies. Strategies for autism provide parents with different ways to help cope and manage the disorder. After all, autism...
History Of Autism Pioneers
By: Rachel Evans | 22/05/2007 | Health
Autism does not have a long history, and this is due to the fact that the history of autism really didn't begin until the first decade of the 20th century. Although, autism as a condition was around prior to this time, it was not a recognized condition and most people...
Autism Understanding Furthered By International Genetic Study
By: Rachel Evans | 18/03/2007 | Health
Autism understanding begins when a person realizes that autism is a disorder that affects people differently. Although autism affects the normal functioning of a person's perception, attention and thoughts, autism is not characterized by one type of perception, attention and thought. Instead, it covers a broad spectrum...
What Are Phospholipid Deficiencies In Autism?
By: Rachel Evans | 20/06/2007 | Health
The word phospholipid might not be something you are familiar with, but if you have a child with autism, it could be a useful term to understand. Studies suggest that children with autism are lacking in essential fatty acids that are crucial for proper brain function and development. By measuring...
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Attorney for Roe V. Wade
By: barbara | 13-07-2008
I know Weddington was one of the attorneys for Roe V. Wade.What about the first attorney on this case??
Financial need for child with Autism
By: les | 21-06-2008
Does anyone know of any speech therapist or speech therapy businesses that offer free funding for children with autism in Atlanta, GA?
Hyperactivity
By: Leximomma03 | 08-06-2008
My child is in the spectrum of autism and to calm her down i have heard giving them chocolate covered coffee beans would help, is this true?
ADHD or Autistic?
By: Chrissie | 02-06-2008
My son is 10 years old and has been diagnosed with ADHD since he was 4. He's been in Special Ed. since he's 3. I've always seen some autism behaviors in him, but his teachers have said he doesn't have autism. He has no attention span, hates loud noises and bright lights, doesn't always look you in the eye when he talks, likes to line things up. However, he has no problems socially. He makes friends very easily. How do I know if he is autistic? Is it possible to be a "little" autistic? I always thought you were born with autism. Can you develop it later on, say at 10 years old? Thank you.
Autism schools in NJ?
By: jswift71 | 05-05-2008
What are some good autism schools in the South Jersey area? Like Camden or Burlington county?
Presence of LPDAC programme in India for Autistic ...
By: mdchaskar | 15-04-2008
Presence of LPDAC programme in India for Autistic patients.
Q&A Powered by:
More from Rachel Evans
Is B6 And Magnesium Therapy Right For Your Autistic Child?
By: Rachel Evans | 24/07/2008 | Health
Recently, there has been a movement among some parents of autistic children toward a therapy that involves the use of Vitamin B6 and Magnesium. However, before jumping on the bandwagon, it is a good idea to know what is involved in the treatment and understand the pros and cons of...
Solving Sleeping Challenges With Autistic Children
By: Rachel Evans | 01/07/2008 | Health
Parents of autistic children often struggle to get them to sleep, and therefore struggle with their own sleep as well. However, we all know the importance of ensuring children get the sleep that they need in order to get the most out of the various therapies and efforts being made...
Teaching Children With Autism Better Verbal Communication Skills
By: Rachel Evans | 21/06/2008 | Education
Children with autism commonly face problems with verbal communication. This is usually due to the frequent speech and language problems associated with the disorder. Though the actual reason that these problems are faced by autistic children is unknown, many experts believe that they are the result of several...
Are Aspergers and High Functioning Autism the Same Thing?
By: Rachel Evans | 13/06/2008 | Health
One of the most common mistakes made about autism is that Asperger's Syndrome and high functioning autism are the same thing. Many parents struggle with this problem because there is so much information out there that uses the two terms interchangeably. There are many crossover symptoms between Asperger's Syndrome and...
Can a Child Display Autistic Traits and Still Not Be Autistic?
By: Rachel Evans | 06/06/2008 | Health
With it featuring so heavily in the media (and rightly so) a fear that many parents hold is the possibility that their child or children may be diagnosed with autism. However, before jumping to conclusions should you observe some symptoms or traits of autism in your child, it is important...
Tips For Coping With Aggression In Your Autistic Child
By: Rachel Evans | 01/06/2008 | Health
One of the common symptoms in children with autism is aggressive behavior. Aggression can occur in many different ways. Physical aggression can be directed toward you, other children, the child him or herself, or even toward inanimate objects. Furthermore, aggression in autistic children isn't limited to physical behaviors but also...
What You Should Know About Allergy Induced Autism
By: Rachel Evans | 16/05/2008 | Health
Allergy induced autism has only been recognized by scientists and doctors for a relatively short time since the "discovery" of autism. Since being recognized, its presence has become increasingly common; in line with the increase in autism cases.
Those who are at the highest risk for allergy induced autism are children...
What Is The Difference Between Apraxia And Autism?
By: Rachel Evans | 14/05/2008 | Health
Apraxia and autism are two entirely different neurological disorders which can occur in a child independently of one another, or together in the same child. While autism's symptoms can impact and impair many different systems, behaviors, and thought patterns, apraxia occurs when the child struggles to plan and carry out...
Health 
