Some children are unresponsive from birth. They cry excessively, do not make eye contact or focus obsessively on an object for a long period of time. Some children who seemed to be developing normally suddenly stop babbling, become indifferent to others, lose imaginative play skills, do not respond to their name and become uninterested in playing with other children. Regardless, parents are often the first to notice that something is not right with their child.

Every well-child checkup should always include observational data and a developmental screening. Key to this screening are the parents’ observations from home. If there is cause for concern based on behavior, several tools are commonly used to screen specifically for autism. These include the Checklist of Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) and the Comprehensive Autism Ratings Scale (CARS). These tools do not provide a diagnosis, but instead indicate whether a child should be referred for further evaluation.

Unfortunately at this time there is no medical test or biomarker for autism. Diagnosis is based on observation of the child’s behavior, educational and psychological testing and parent reporting. Because of this, a team of specialists is usually involved in the diagnosis. This may include a neurologist, psychiatrist, developmental pediatrician, psychologist, gastroenterologist, audiologist, speech therapist, occupational therapist and other professionals. 

Unlike other diseases, autism carries no defined treatment protocol. All too often parents are on their own and must begin navigating the complex web of treatments, interventions, and therapies to determine which intervention approach might be best for their child. Gaining as much information as possible (such as this site) is critical to becoming an effective advocate for your child.