Diagnosis of autism is a very complex process as it needs the combined efforts of different medical experts. These medical experts observe different behavioural patterns in the child to diagnose autism. Different tests are carried out to evaluate the disease. Read on the different tests for diagnosis of autism.Diagnosing autism requires special medical help. A mere blood test or MRI scan cannot show your child as autistic. An autism diagnosis requires the medical expert to keep a track of the behavioural patterns of the child. The clinician carefully monitors the childs social and communication skills and behaviour. The behavioural pattern of the child reveals autism. Generally, some of the features of autism are present in the early stages of life in the child after birth.For diagnosing autism, there are many skilled professional experts who evaluate the child perfectly. These autism specialists are highly trained and experienced professionals having gained the required excellence in this specialised area. Autism diagnosis is a complex process; a single medical test cannot confirm autism perfectly, but it requires multiple tests and evaluations. Specialists evaluate the child in every way.There is a team of specialists which diagnose autism in the child; they include Child psychologist, Speech pathologist, Special education teacher, Child psychiatrist, Audiologist, Developmental Paediatrician, Paediatric neurologist and Physical therapist. Read on to know the process of diagnosing autism spectrum disorder is a child. In this articleParents InterviewScreeningBehaviour ObservationHearing TestsOther Tests Included in Autism DiagnosisAdaptive Functioning AssessmentLanguage and SpeechSensory-Motor TestProcedure of Diagnosing Autism in ChildrenHere is the procedure which needs to be carried out for diagnosing autism in children.Parents InterviewThis is first stage of the diagnoses where the parents of the child are interviewed by the doctor. During the interview the parents provide the doctor with the complete background information of the childs behavioural, developmental and medical record. It is very crucial for the parents to provide all the required information which they have noted down also if they have had any family mental and medical history.ScreeningHere the child goes through a developmental screening test to find out the main cause behind its developmental problems. The screening includes various medical tests like genetic tests, physical tests, lab tests and neurological tests. In the screening test the doctor may also identify any other co-existing problems.Behaviour ObservationUnder this evaluation, the specialists watch the child carefully to look for unusual behaviour. They may put the child in various settings like playing or interacting to people and keep a track of their strange behaviour associated with autism.Hearing TestsChildren with autism often have impaired hearing problems and other problems like being sensitive to sound, light and other things. As hearing problems can act as a hindrance to the language and social skills of the child it is important that they are excluded before the child can be diagnosed with autism.The child undergoes certain tests where its hearing abilities are checked to know whether they are normal or impaired. All this is done with the help of a formal audio logical assessment test. The doctor checks if the child has any other hearing issues or whether it is sensitive to sound as this is also another problem which occurs with autism.Other Tests Included in Autism DiagnosisSome other tests are also included in the autism diagnosis process depending on the severity of the symptoms of autism in the child. The doctor may conduct the other following tests like:Adaptive Functioning Assessment - In this assessment the child is evaluated on its skills of functioning properly and adapting to real life situations like performing routine tasks in daily life etc.Language and Speech - A speech pathologist conducts various tests on the child to check its language and speech skills and also to check if the child has any other language impairment or disorderSensory-Motor Test - Here the occupational therapist or physical therapists evaluates the childs gross motor, fine motor skills and sensory motor processing skills because often sensory integration dysfunction occurs with autism.With the help of the autism evaluation tests the specialists diagnose autism spectrum disorder in the child.
Diagnosis of autism is a very complex process as it needs the combined efforts of different medical experts. These medical experts observe different behavioural patterns in the child to diagnose autism. Different tests are carried out to evaluate the disease. Read on the different tests for diagnosis of autism.Diagnosing autism requires special medical help. A mere blood test or MRI scan cannot show your child as autistic. An
autism diagnosis requires the medical expert to keep a track of the behavioural patterns of the child. The clinician carefully monitors the child's social and communication skills and behaviour. The behavioural pattern of the child reveals autism. Generally, some of the features of autism are present in the early stages of life in the child after birth.
For diagnosing autism, there are many skilled professional experts who evaluate the child perfectly. These autism specialists are highly trained and experienced professionals having gained the required excellence in this specialised area. Autism diagnosis is a complex process; a single medical test cannot confirm autism perfectly, but it requires multiple tests and evaluations. Specialists evaluate the child in every way.
There is a team of specialists which diagnose autism in the child; they include Child psychologist,
Speech pathologist, Special education teacher, Child psychiatrist, Audiologist, Developmental Paediatrician, Paediatric neurologist and Physical therapist. Read on to know the process of diagnosing autism spectrum disorder is a child.
Procedure of Diagnosing Autism in Children
Here is the procedure which needs to be carried out for diagnosing autism in children.
Parent's Interview
This is first stage of the diagnoses where the parents of the child are interviewed by the doctor. During the interview the parents provide the doctor with the complete background information of the child's behavioural, developmental and medical record. It is very crucial for the parents to provide all the required information which they have noted down also if they have had any family mental and medical history.
Screening
Here the child goes through a developmental screening test to find out the main cause behind its developmental problems. The screening includes various medical tests like genetic tests, physical tests, lab tests and neurological tests. In the screening test the doctor may also identify any other co-existing problems.
Behaviour Observation
Under this evaluation, the specialists watch the child carefully to look for unusual behaviour. They may put the child in various settings like playing or interacting to people and keep a track of their strange behaviour associated with autism.
Hearing Tests
Children with autism often have impaired
hearing problems and other problems like being sensitive to sound, light and other things. As hearing problems can act as a hindrance to the language and social skills of the child it is important that they are excluded before the child can be diagnosed with autism.
The child undergoes certain tests where its hearing abilities are checked to know whether they are normal or impaired. All this is done with the help of a formal audio logical assessment test. The doctor checks if the child has any other hearing issues or whether it is sensitive to sound as this is also another problem which occurs with autism.
Other Tests Included in Autism Diagnosis
Some other tests are also included in the autism diagnosis process depending on the severity of the symptoms of autism in the child. The doctor may conduct the other following tests like:
Adaptive Functioning Assessment -
In this assessment the child is evaluated on its skills of functioning properly and adapting to real life situations like performing routine tasks in daily life etc.
Language and Speech -
A speech pathologist conducts various tests on the child to check its
language and speech skills and also to check if the child has any other language impairment or disorder
Sensory-Motor Test -
Here the occupational therapist or physical therapists evaluates the child's gross motor,
fine motor skills and sensory motor processing skills because often sensory integration dysfunction occurs with autism.With the help of the autism evaluation tests the specialists diagnose autism spectrum disorder in the child.
