As children with ASD become adolescents and young adults, they might have difficulties developing and maintaining friendships, communicating with peers and adults, or understanding what behaviors are expected in school or on the job. They may also come to the attention of healthcare providers because they have co-occurring conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety or depression, or conduct disorder. Monitoring, screening, evaluating, and diagnosing children with ASD as early as possible is important to make sure children receive the services and supports they need to reach their full potential. There are several steps in this process.
Diagnostic Assessment & Screening
Developmental Monitoring
Developmental monitoring observes how your child grows and changes over time and whether your child meets the typical developmental milestones in playing, learning, speaking, behaving, and moving. If you notice that your child is not meeting milestones, talk with your doctor or nurse about your concerns.
Developmental Screening
Developmental screening takes a closer look at how your child is developing. Your child will get a brief test, or you will complete a questionnaire about your child. The tools used for developmental and behavioral screening are formal questionnaires or checklists based on research that ask questions about a child’s development, including language, movement, thinking, behavior, and emotions.
Developmental Evaluation
If the screening tool identifies an area of concern, a formal developmental evaluation may be needed. This formal evaluation is a more in-depth look at a child’s development, usually done by a trained specialist. The specialist may observe the child, give the child a structured test, ask the parents or caregivers questions, or ask them to fill out questionnaires. The results of this formal evaluation determines whether a child needs special treatments or early intervention services or both.
FREE SCREENING
Pediatricians are recommended to screen for development issues and signs of ASD at 15 to 24 months. However, there may still be a long wait to schedule an assessment and receive an actual diagnosis.
Receiving an early diagnosis of ASD can have an immense impact on your child’s development. It opens many opportunities for support and more importantly, the start of efficacious treatment.
We provide FREE early screenings for children 12 months to 5 years in age.