If you’ve been following along with our blog and podcast series on Autism and are wondering if you should seek a diagnosis for your child, here’s what you need to know!
Signs to Look for:
- Difficulties understanding the intent of others
- Individuals with ASD may misunderstand when a caregiver or peer is making a joke, misunderstand sarcasm, or misunderstand the seriousness of a situation.
- Diminished interactive eye contact
- Prolonged eye contact is often uncomfortable for these individuals; some describe it as painful.
- Atypical social interaction
- Social interaction may look different than that of peers. They may share information about things of interest with peers and adults rather than having a back-and-forth conversation.
- Pretend play different than that of peers
- There is no wrong way to play! However, children with ASD may not engage in pretend play the same way as their peers. Rather than driving toy cars on a ramp and pretending they are the driver, they may drive a car down the ramp to watch how the wheels turn, line the cars up based on color, size, model, or simply enjoy carrying the cars around.
- Different interests than those of same-age peers
- This can look like being interested in playing with specific one toy rather than moving between various activities, choosing to look at pictures in a non-fiction book of interest rather than participating in play, or having a strong interest in unexpected topics such as vacuums, car washes, trains, toy collections, dolls, pop-culture, etc.
- These interests may seem too mature for the individual’s age or immature.
- This can look like being interested in playing with specific one toy rather than moving between various activities, choosing to look at pictures in a non-fiction book of interest rather than participating in play, or having a strong interest in unexpected topics such as vacuums, car washes, trains, toy collections, dolls, pop-culture, etc.
- Repetitive behaviors
- Repetitive behaviors can be related to the following.
- Stimming behaviors, such as flapping hands, tapping fingers, jumping, etc.
- Verbal behaviors such as repeating words and phrases.
- Feeding behaviors such as eating foods in a certain order or pattern.
- Repetitive behaviors can be related to the following.
- Sensory processing needs
- Sensory processing needs can be seen in each of the senses. This can look like strong aversions to certain tastes, smells, lights, or sounds. It can also look like strong desires for certain tastes, smells, movement, sounds, etc.
- A strong desire for predictability and routine
- This can be seen in daily activities by needing to know what is coming next in their day, becoming distressed when unexpected events or changes in routine occur, finding comfort in the predictability of watching the same TV shows and movies on repeat, and finding comfort in eating the same food or foods.
Other signs of Autism include a regression of language or social skills between 18-months and two years of age, and delayed acquisition of developmental milestones (Hyman, 2020).
If you see these signs in your child, begin by talking with your child’s pediatrician or primary care provider! An initial clinical diagnosis can be made by:
- Pediatrician
- Neurodevelopmental pediatrician
- Psychologist
- Neurologist
- Psychiatrist
- Child psychologist
Autism cannot be diagnosed through medical testing such as physical exams, bloodwork, or labs. For your child to receive an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, a clinical diagnostic evaluation is required. A thorough diagnostic screening includes:
- A review of the child’s history
- Observation of the child
- Evaluation of language, cognitive, and adaptive skills
- Parent questionnaires
- Parent interviews
If one of the above professionals diagnoses your child with autism spectrum disorder, they will also determine a level of severity as outlined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
Autism spectrum disorder levels:
- Level 1: Requiring Support
- Level 2: Requiring Substantial Support
- Level 3: Requiring Very Substantial Support
So what does it mean if your child receives an Autism diagnosis?
Your child is still the same child you love and adore! The diagnosis simply helps you understand them in a different way and will help you get the support they may need.
To learn more about Autism, enroll in our FREE Little Light House Academy Course, More than a Diagnosis: Intro to Autism!
