?
Doctors diagnose ASD by looking at a child’s behavior and
development. Young children with ASD can usually be reliably
diagnosed by age 2.
Older children and adolescents should be screened for ASD when a
parent or teacher raises concerns based on observations of the
child’s social, communicative, and play behaviors.
Diagnosing ASD in adults is not easy. In adults, some ASD
symptoms can overlap with symptoms of other mental health
disorders, such as schizophrenia or attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). However, getting a correct diagnosis of ASD as an
adult can help a person understand past difficulties, identify his or
her strengths, and obtain the right kind of help.
Diagnosis in Young Children
Diagnosis in young children is often a two-stage process:
General Developmental Screening During Well-Child Checkups
Every child should receive well-child check-ups with a pediatrician
or an early childhood health care provider. Specific ASD screening
should be done at the 18- and 24-month visits.
Earlier screening might be needed if a child is at high risk for ASD or
developmental problems. Those at high risk include those who:
• Have a sister, brother, or other family member with ASD
• Have some ASD behaviors
• Were born premature, or early, and at a low birth weight
Parents’ experiences and concerns are very important in the
screening process for young children. Sometimes the doctor will
ask parents questions about the child’s behaviors and combine this
information with his or her observations of the child. Read more
about screening instruments at www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/
hcp-screening.html.
Children who show some developmental problems during this
screening process will be referred for another stage of evaluation.
Additional Evaluation
This evaluation is with a team of doctors and other health
professionals with a wide range of specialties who are experienced
in diagnosing ASD. This team may include:
• A developmental pediatrician—a doctor who has special training in
child development
• A child psychologist and/or child psychiatrist—a doctor who knows
about brain development and behavior
• A speech-language pathologist—a health professional who has
special training in communication difficulties