Identifying Autism
Screening and Diagnosis
When parents or providers are worried that their child is not following a traditional developmental course, they turn to specialists for a diagnosis, including psychologists, educators, and medical professionals. Some people with autism may seem to have an intellectual disability at first glance or sensory processing difficulties, or hearing or vision problems. These conditions will co-occur with autism; to further complicate matters. It is important to distinguish autism from other disorders, however, as a specific and early diagnosis of autism can provide the basis for an effective educational and treatment program. Many medical conditions or syndromes can show similar traits to those of autism, such as sensory processing disorder. This is called differential diagnosis. There are many variations between a medical diagnosis and an impairment being decided by education ;or the school's assessment. A physician makes a medical diagnosis by analyzing the symptoms and diagnostic tests. A brief observation may not represent someone's abilities and actions in a single setting. The individual's developmental history and the feedback from parents, clinicians, and/or teachers are important components of a specific diagnosis.
Medical Diagnosis
A medical Diagnosis is made by a psychologist, developmental pediatrician, or a specialized physician based on an assessment of symptoms and diagnostic tests. According to the Autism Society, a medical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum disorder is most frequently made according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual(DSM-5, release,2013) of the American Psychiatric Association. This manual guides physicians criteria in diagnosing Autism Spectrum disorder according to a specific set of criteria.
Educational Determination
A team makes educational determinations of various of school professionals. The evaluation results are reviewed by the team and the parents to determine whether a student qualifies for special education and related services under the related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act(IDEA)(Hawkins, 2009). A school determination is not the same as a medical determination and often will not qualify the student for therapy and outside support; however, child's if you believe your child might need to be seen by a healthcare professional, you can make a formal request to your child's a school.
Adult Diagnosis
Additional Information
Late autism diagnosis is becoming more common as more information about autism is made readily available There are many reasons why people may seek out diagnosis as adults, and the pathways for this are not always clear or accessible. Our mission at JAS is to fight for early detection if possible and if not, possible we will fight for adult diagnosis and support. We will help find access to a professional who can conduct these assessments.
