Early Diagnosis of Autism: Understanding Signs for Timely Help
Early diagnosis of autism is essential for better outcomes and for turning your child into a self-reliant adult.
Your biggest challenge as a parent and caregiver is identifying these early signs, which can be difficult but is extremely important for providing the support and care your child needs.
Most importantly, early diagnosis helps you understand your child’s unique needs and allows you to provide timely interventions that can significantly impact their future as independent people.
Let us help you understand why diagnosis is essential and how you can take the first steps toward preparing your child for a brighter future.
How does Early Diagnosis of Autism Help?
Early diagnosis of autism is important for timely intervention and to improve long-term outcomes for your child. Early detection is also important because every child with ASD has different signs and symptoms like lack of response to names, avoidance of eye contact, excessive fear, and lack of interactive and pretend play.
Early diagnosis helps parents, caregivers, and teachers provide the support they need and help them overcome the challenges related to ASD.
Early detection of ASD is important but delayed due to different symptoms in children and low awareness among parents and caregivers. Some children seem different in infancy, others show delayed language development in their second year, and some regress after normal development until 12–24 months.
Locally, challenges include low awareness of early symptoms among parents and reliance on caregivers like grandparents or domestic helpers. Your doctor should consider gathering collaborative histories in such cases.
So you should know the signs and symptoms of autism and when you see them in your child, you should approach a doctor immediately.
What are the Difficulties Surrounding the Diagnosis of Autism?
Diagnosing autism is challenging for doctors because there are no medical tests and it presents different symptoms. Pediatric specialists, like neurodevelopmental pediatricians, must assess a child’s behaviour.
Early intervention programs can help by evaluating your child and starting treatment immediately, even before a formal diagnosis. Early intervention improves treatment outcomes and reduces the need for intensive support later in life.
How to Diagnose Autism?
If you suspect your baby has ASD, you should contact a specialist immediately for an assessment and diagnosis. As said before, the symptoms of autism are different for different children.
Some children who are on the spectrum have severe mental disabilities but others may have high intelligence and be able to live a self-reliant life.
There are no lab tests to diagnose autism, so doctors rely on observing the behaviours of babies and young children and learn about their symptoms from their parents and caregivers.
The diagnosis is a two-step process. The first step involves the child’s pediatrician.
Your child’s pediatrician will watch them and talk to them to learn about their progress. They will also ask you if anyone in your family has ASD and try to learn about the family history. The pediatrician will ask you questions related to your child’s development and behaviour.
These investigations are mostly done when your child is between 18 and 24 months. The doctor will inquire about these milestones:
- Did the baby smile by 6 months?
- Did they start copying sounds and facial expressions by 9 months?
- Did they babble and coo by 12 months?
- Can they play games like peek-a-boo for 12 months?
- Do they respond to their name by 9 months?
The pediatrician will ask the following questions regarding their behaviour:
- Are their behaviour repetitive or usual?
- Do they try to interact with people and respond well?
- Do they talk in a flat tone of voice?
- Can they make eye contact?
- Are they sensitive to light, temperature, sounds, smell, and noise?
- Do they frequently get annoyed and angry?
- Do they have digestion and sleep issues?
If the child needs more tests to determine whether they have ASD, you need to consult a team of ASD specialists. The team will have a child’s psychologist, speech-language pathologist, neurologist, development pediatrician and occupational therapists.
These specialists will check your child’s cognitive skills, language abilities, and independence in doing daily chores like eating, bathing, and dressing up.
Can a Prenatal Diagnosis of Autism be Possible?
There are prenatal genetic tests that can give some indications of whether the child may have ASD.
But you need to remember that prenatal genetic testing (PGT) analyzes a fetus’s genetic material to detect issues and conditions but cannot diagnose autism. It can identify genetic variations linked to higher autism risk, though these variations alone don’t guarantee autism, as other factors also play a role.
How is Autism Diagnosed in Adults?
No autism diagnostic criteria exist for adults right now. But in India and across the world these are the assessments and tools used for its diagnosis in adults:
- DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition): Standard criteria for diagnosing ASD.
- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS): A tool to identify common traits of autism.
- Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA): An India-specific screening tool combining observation and interviews.
- Autism Quotient (AQ) Questionnaire: Evaluates social, communication, and behavioural traits.
Takeaway
Diagnosis of autism in its early stage isn’t just about identifying challenges they are facing but it’s about opening doors to giving your child a life of freedom and self-reliance. Recognizing the signs and seeking timely professional help is the best way to ensure that your child gets the best intervention, personalized care, and skill-building that helps them live independently.
Remember, every child is unique, and with the right support, they can achieve a better future. Stay observant, act early, and empower your child to shine in their special way.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1. How is autism usually diagnosed?
A. Doctors diagnose autism through developmental screenings and comprehensive evaluations.
- Conducted during routine checkups (18-24 months) using tools like M-CHAT to identify delays.
- Specialists observe behaviour, conduct interviews, and use tests like ADOS.
The specialists focus on:
- Social communication challenges (e.g., limited eye contact, difficulty with social cues).
- Repetitive behaviours or sensory sensitivities.
Hearing, vision, and genetic tests may be used to rule out other causes. Early diagnosis leads to better support.
Q2. At what age is autism first diagnosed?
A. Autism can be diagnosed as early as 18 to 24 months. A formal diagnosis may not occur until age 3 or later in many cases.
Q3. How is autism level diagnosed?
A. Autism levels are diagnosed based on the support needed in social communication and repetitive behaviours:
- Level 1: Mild, needs some support.
- Level 2: Moderate, requires substantial support.
- Level 3: Severe, needs very substantial support.
Specialists assess behaviour, communication, and daily functioning to understand which level your child is in.
Q4. How to diagnose autism in babies?
A. Autism in babies is diagnosed through developmental screenings (18-24 months) and detailed evaluations by specialists. They focus on delays in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviours. Early signs include lack of eye contact, limited babbling, and minimal social responsiveness.
Q5. Which test confirms autism?
A. No single test confirms autism. Its diagnosis needs behavioural evaluations, tools like ADOS-2, and developmental history assessments by specialists.
Q6. What is the ASD test for children?
A. The ASD test for children uses tools like the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) and the M-CHAT (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers). The doctors use them to evaluate social communication, behaviour, and developmental milestones, helping specialists identify autism symptoms.
Q7. What are the diagnostic criteria for autism?
A. Autism diagnosis needs the following criteria:
- Social communication challenges, such as difficulty with conversations, eye contact, and relationships.
- Restricted, repetitive behaviours, like rigid routines, intense interests, or sensory sensitivities.
- Symptoms present early in childhood and significantly impact daily life.
Q8. What are the guidelines for diagnosing autism?
A. Diagnosis of autism includes:
- Reviewing early milestones.
- Monitoring social and communication skills.
- Using tests like ADOS-2 and M-CHAT.
- Assessment by specialists.
- Involving different professionals for a thorough evaluation.
Q9. What are the stages of autism diagnosis?
A. These are the stages of autism diagnosis:
- Early checkups to identify concerns
- Detailed assessment by specialists
- Use of tools like ADOS-2 and M-CHAT
- Confirmation based on behaviour and developmental history
Q10. What are the consequences of late diagnosis of autism?
A. Late diagnosis of autism can lead to delayed intervention, and treatment, which may affect social skills, communication, and behavior development. It can also result in missed opportunities for support, leading to challenges in school, work, and daily life.
- https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient
- https://thenationaltrust.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/ISAA%20TEST%20MANNUAL(2).pdf
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/autism-diagnostic-observation-schedule
- https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7013751/
- https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/how-do-doctors-diagnose-autism
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6658658/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10491411/#:~:text=The%20symptoms%20of%20ASD%20vary,for%20diagnosis%20and%20appropriate%20interventions
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