| An early diagnosis of autism spectrum
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| | evaluation should include neurologic and
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| disorder is important so that earlier
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| | genetic assessments as well as in-depth
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| needed interventions can begin, however,
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| | cognitive and language testing. The
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| there are still many concerns about
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| | measures developed specifically for
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| "labeling" a young child with autism
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| | diagnosing autism often include:
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| spectrum disorder. There is a lot of
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| | -Autism Diagnosis Interview-Revised
|
| evidence that indicates intensive early
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| | (ADI-R)
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| intervention in optimal educational
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| | -The Autism Diagnostic Observation
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| settings for at least 2 years during the
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| | Schedule (ADOS-G)
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| preschool years is very effective in
| |
| | What is the Autism Diagnosis
|
| improving outcomes in most young children
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| | Interview-Revised (ADI-R)?
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| with autism spectrum disorder.
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| | The Autism Diagnosis Interview-Revised is
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| Behavioral characteristics are the first
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| | a structured interview that contains over
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| clues clinicians use to make a diagnosis
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| | 100 items and is done with the caregiver.
|
| of autism spectrum disorder. Some of the
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| | This tool consists of four main parts:
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| characteristic behaviors of autism
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| | -The child's communication
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| spectrum disorder are apparent in the
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| | -The child's social interaction
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| first few months of life, or appear at
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| | -The child's repetitive behaviors
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| any time during the early years. A
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| | -Age-of-onset symptoms
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| diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder may
| |
| | What is the ADOS-G?
|
| be made if there are deficits in at least
| |
| | This is an observational diagnostic tool
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| one of the following areas before the age
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| | that is used to "press" for
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| of 3:
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| | socio-communicative behaviors that are
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| -Communication
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| | often delayed, abnormal, or absent in
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| -Socialization
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| | children with autism spectrum disorder.
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| -Restricted behavior
| |
| | The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS)
|
| There are two stages to the diagnosis
| |
| | The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS)
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| process:
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| | is another screening tool professionals
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| 1.Developmental screening during "well
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| | often use to evaluate:
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| child" check-ups
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| | -The child's body movements
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| 2.A comprehensive evaluation by a
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| | -Adaptation to change
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| multidisciplinary team
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| | -Listening response
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| If your routine "well child" check-up
| |
| | -Verbal communication
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| does not include a developmental
| |
| | -The child's relationship to people
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| screening test, you should ask that it be
| |
| | The Childhood Autism Rating Scale is
|
| done. As a parent or caretaker, your own
| |
| | suitable for use with children over 2
|
| observations and concerns about the
| |
| | years of age. The evaluator not only
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| child's development will be very
| |
| | observes the child, but also obtains
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| important in helping to evaluate your
| |
| | related information from the parents. The
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| child.
| |
| | evaluator then rates the child on a scale
|
| Screening tools used to gather
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| | based on deviation from the typical
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| information about a child's social and
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| | behavior of children of the same age.
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| communication development within medical
| |
| | Other Tests
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| settings include:
| |
| | Two other tests that should be used to
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| -The Checklist of Autism in Toddlers
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| | assess any child with a developmental
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| (CHAT)
| |
| | delay are:
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| -The modified Checklist for Autism in
| |
| | -A formal audio logic hearing evaluation
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| Toddlers (M-CHAT)
| |
| | -Lead screening
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| -The Screening Tool of Autism in
| |
| | Experts feel some hearing loss can occur
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| two-Year-Olds (STAT)
| |
| | with autism spectrum disorder; however,
|
| -The social communication Questionnaire
| |
| | some children with autism spectrum
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| (SCQ) (for children 4 years of age and
| |
| | disorder may be incorrectly diagnosed
|
| older)
| |
| | with hearing loss. Children who remain in
|
| Other screening tools include:
| |
| | the oral-motor stage for a long period of
|
| -Parent responses to a questionnaire
| |
| | time require lead screening. A child with
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| -Combination of parent report and
| |
| | an autistic disorder usually has elevated
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| observation
| |
| | blood lead levels.
|
| Screening tools do not provide individual
| |
| | The Responsibility of the
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| diagnosis. They serve to assess the need
| |
| | Multidisciplinary Team
|
| for referral for possible diagnosis of
| |
| | The multidisciplinary diagnostic team has
|
| autism spectrum disorder. These screening
| |
| | a responsibility to thoroughly evaluate
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| methods may not always identify children
| |
| | the child. They will assess the child's
|
| with "mild" autism spectrum disorder like
| |
| | unique strengths and weaknesses, and then
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| those with high-functioning autism or
| |
| | determine a formal diagnosis. Once a
|
| Asperger syndrome. Evaluators feel a key
| |
| | diagnosis has been made the team will
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| difference in children with autism from
| |
| | meet with the parents or caretakers of
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| other children before the age of 2
| |
| | the child to explain the evaluation
|
| include pointing and pretend play.
| |
| | results.
|
| In the last few years screening tools
| |
| | Meeting with the Parents or Caregivers
|
| devised to screen for Asperger syndrome
| |
| | for a Final Diagnosis
|
| and higher functioning autism include:
| |
| | Most parents are already aware that
|
| -The Autism Spectrum Screening
| |
| | "something" was just not quite right with
|
| Questionnaire (ASSQ)
| |
| | their child. Nonetheless, when the
|
| -The Australian Scale for Asperger's
| |
| | diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is
|
| Syndrome
| |
| | given, it can be devastating. Some
|
| -The Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test
| |
| | parents may even go into a denial stage,
|
| (CAST) (the most recent)
| |
| | and it may be difficult to focus on
|
| These screening tools are reliable for
| |
| | asking questions. One of the best
|
| identification of school-age children
| |
| | opportunities the parents have to ask
|
| with Asperger syndrome or higher
| |
| | questions is while the evaluation team is
|
| functioning autism. Concentration
| |
| | together. The focus now should be: What
|
| includes:
| |
| | further steps parents or caretakers of a
|
| -Social and behavior impairments in
| |
| | child with autism spectrum disorder
|
| children without significant language
| |
| | should take? It is to the best advantage
|
| delay
| |
| | of the parents or caretakers to learn as
|
| The second stage of diagnosis is a
| |
| | much as possible at this meeting. Take
|
| comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. The
| |
| | note of the name or names of
|
| comprehensive diagnostic evaluation is
| |
| | professionals who you can contact later
|
| designed to accurately rule in or rule
| |
| | if you have further questions.
|
| out an autism spectrum disorder or other
| |
| | Source: National Institute of Mental
|
| developmental problem. The evaluation is
| |
| | Health
|
| usually done by a multidisciplinary team
| |
| | Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to
|
| that includes:
| |
| | diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a
|
| -A psychologist
| |
| | health problem. These statements have not
|
| -A neurologist
| |
| | been evaluated by the Food and Drug
|
| -A psychiatrist
| |
| | Administration. Always consult with your
|
| -A speech therapist
| |
| | health care provider about any kind of a
|
| -Other professionals who diagnose
| |
| | health problem and especially before
|
| children with autism spectrum disorder
| |
| | beginning any kind of an exercise
|
| Autism spectrum disorders are complex and
| |
| | routine.
|
| often involve other neurological or
| |
| | This article is FREE to publish with the
|
| genetic problems. A comprehensive
| |
| | resource box. Article written 5-2007.
|
