Autism is a spectrum disorder. Its full name is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and it encompasses a range of neurodevelopmental conditions that affect children, teenagers, and adults.
The cause of this range of conditions is unknown. There are hypotheses suggesting that ASD is caused by genetic malfunctions, upbringing, or even maternal health during fetal development.
Generally, the symptoms of ASD appear in children below the age of 3 and it manifests in delayed cognitive, physical, and social development. Autistic children and teens can often struggle with communication and social interactions.
The severity of symptoms in autism can range (hence why it is a spectrum). Some autistic individuals may display very mild symptoms that are barely noticeable. Others will show very noticeable symptoms that make their behavior noticeably different from other non-autistic children their age.
Diagnosing ASD
Diagnosing ASD can be complex because it is a spectrum and it affects children’s development in unique ways. The signs and symptoms of autism can vary in severity and they can show up in different ways.
The symptoms of autism can also change over the course of a person’s life. They might be worse in their younger years or might just show up in different ways compared to when that person grows into a teenager and young adult.
Most of the time, a parent will suspect that their child is on the autistic spectrum before they get an official diagnosis. The M-CHAT scoring calculator can be used to determine whether a child is a low risk or high risk for autism.
The M-CHAT is the first step in a multistep diagnostic process. It isn’t extensive enough to make a full diagnosis but if a child receives a high risk score, it encourages parents to take the next steps.
To get a proper diagnosis of autism, a psychiatrist, pediatrician, or psychologist will need to perform a full assessment of the child or teen. This assessment can involve a range of different techniques to identify their behaviors, communication skills, and social interactions.
Methods of Evaluation
Some of the most common methods of evaluation include:
- Regular monitoring of the child’s or teen’s behavior to determine whether or not they reach developmental milestones that are based on a ‘normal’ rate of development
- Observing how a child or teen interacts with healthcare professionals, family members, and friends
- Finding helpful resources to support the child or teen and their family so that they can live as normal a life as possible
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the diagnostic criteria for autism is:
- Symptoms appear in the earlier years of development and become more apparent as the child ages
- Signs and symptoms are out of the norm compared to other children who are not diagnosed with autism
- Having difficulty with social interactions and communication
- Finding it difficult to maintain relationships
- Being hyperfocused or fixated on certain things
- Hyper or hyporeactivity to certain sensory input
- Displaying repetitive patterns of behavior and feeling distressed when these patterns are disrupted
