Autism Diagnosis

Navigating and trying to figure out what should be on an autism symptom checklist can be daunting. Maybe there is a child in your life that shows signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), like repetitive behaviors, or an adult that questions whether their difficulties in social situations could mean they are autistic. Without a full

Your autistic child’s behavior may not conform to “classic” characteristics described by doctors and research. Does the spectrum have subtypes meaning autism may manifest uniquely according to differing categories? This used to be the case, until an umbrella term, autism spectrum disorders, was introduced. The spectrum nature of autism makes it difficult to diagnose; it

Jenny sat facing the ocean and, as the waves rolled in and out, so did her anxiety. That morning, at her daughter’s Well-Child Visit, she’d heard the pediatrician’s recommendation for a formal evaluation for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but she couldn’t quite process it yet. “I don’t even know how to get my child tested

Figuring out what is behind the challenges you see your child facing can feel a bit like a dog chasing its tail. At least that is the way I have felt as a parent, many times. I remember one conversation with my sister. I was detailing my concerns and expressing my frustration over so many

So, the time has come to finally find out if your child is indeed autistic. Maybe you have waited for months for this appointment. Nerves may threaten to get the best of you, but you are strong. Get ready, your life is about to change, and it’s going to be a wild ride. Breathe, you’ve

Over the past decade there has been much debate about autism intelligence and whether autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities are linked. Or, if greater intelligence is present among the ASD population compared to neurotypicals. These thoughts typically stem from people noticing some children with autism show above average abilities, like reading at an

An autism mom and child psychiatrist shares her journey through grief and accepting her son’s autism diagnosis. My name is Lorerky Ramirez-Moya. I’m 44 years old and a mom of a happy, loving, and very brave 11-year-old autistic boy. I’m also a child psychiatrist and my job includes medication management for children and adults with

The autism rate by state in the USA is challenging to determine as it varies and is always changing. The variation in the prevalence of the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in each state can be dependent on ASD resources and knowledge available, among other factors. Which state has the highest autism rate? One

“Can I ask you a question? Don’t get mad at me or anything ok?”, my friend Heather tentatively said to me one sunny afternoon on my back porch. “Have you ever thought that Owen may be on the autism spectrum?” The question hit me with such force, it almost took my breath away. I had

A future where an autism brain scan facilitates accurate, earliest possible diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders may not only be possible but probable. If only there was a quick, accurate test that could diagnose autism effortlessly, a rapid blood test or brain scan, eliminating the need for doctors to painstakingly examine a child’s developmental history,

A psychologist shares how autism symptoms can be misunderstood in undiagnosed children. Sammy was 14 years old when I first met him. He came to my office because he had been truant from school for the past three years.  About three years earlier, Sammy’s mother had died. Afterward, he simply became reclusive and refused to

There are many factors to consider when discussing the typical age of autism diagnosis because children on the autism spectrum range in age, socio-economic group, race, gender, etc. Due to these factors and others in the general population, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be reliably diagnosed as early as three to ten years

If it takes a village to raise a neurotypical child, we should be working to provide that and so much more for children with autism spectrum disorder. Among those resources needed may be an autism psychiatrist, a professional whose role encompasses way more than just diagnostics. Psychologist, psychiatrist, behavioral pediatrician, neurologist, the terms and the

What is sociopathy, does it relate to high functioning autism and can these conditions overlap, co-occur, or are professionals misdiagnosing autistic individuals as sociopaths, to their detriment? This was an interesting article to take on due to the controversy surrounding these diagnoses. At first, when you start a research project based on sociopathy, or correctly

Receiving an autism diagnosis for your child is a confusing experience, especially as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is regarded by some as an umbrella term for several different conditions. Parents with children on the spectrum often receive multiple diagnoses, some of which are conditions that co-occur with autism, some of which are part of autism

Professor Uta Frith of University College London recently spoke out about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, saying urgent changes are needed in how the condition is diagnosed as it “has been stretched to breaking point and has outgrown its purpose”. The comments were made after a study was published in the Journal of Child Psychology

Genetic studies are evolving every day and now play a key part in identifying which genes could be the reason behind disorders and disabilities. Genetic testing is being used more and more in the medical community, but is there a form of genetic testing for autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? This article should answer this big

Have you ever witnessed a child in a classroom who is constantly fidgeting? Or perhaps you’ve seen a child playing alone in the corner of a playground? Many children struggle to focus or have difficulty making friends at times, but when this becomes “normal” daily behavior, it could be a sign of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

For parents who want to find out more about autism, it is important to know what autism is… and what it’s not. For others there is concern that promoting pride in autism sometimes ventures into adding to the stigma of other mental conditions or intellectual disabilities. A LinkedIn post by Russell Lehmann caught my attention

When researching whether autism is overdiagnosed, Google’s related search suggested, “Why is everyone autistic now?” Is autism on the rise and affecting individuals in record numbers, or is there a problem with diagnostic criteria resulting in an ever widening spectrum where normal behavior is pathologized… Could I be on the spectrum? Maybe you entertained this

Studies have discovered that some individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) also present with a form of personality disorder. Of the various forms of personality disorders, borderline personality disorder (BPD) and autism as a combination seem to be the most prevalent. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not a personality disorder in itself. ASD is characterized

An autism mom explains how receiving a diagnosis at an early age can benefit your child’s development. It all started with the spinning. I remember walking into our living room and seeing my six-month-old son sitting upright on our hardwood floors, spinning his toy aquarium bowl as if his life depended on it. I recall

Diagnosing mental conditions can be tricky, and autism is no exception. Over the years, our understanding of autism and developmental disorders, in general, has evolved a lot, but that means it can be hard to keep track of all the subcategories and definitions that have popped up along the way.  One term you may have

The journey to attaining a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often comes with many hurdles and back-and-forth consultations. Some parents only receive a positive diagnosis after years of seeking answers for their children’s challenges, but tools such as the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale are designed to help.  Due to the spectrum of autism, diagnostic

At first glance prenatal testing seems like the ultimate feat of modern medicine. But when reading about parents provided with knowledge and subsequent choices, a dystopian future where tests decide who gets to live becomes imaginable. Prenatal testing for autism is not widely available, and the ethical implications of such testing are enormous. When considering

When you have a child or children with autism, you probably spend more time with doctors and therapists than most other families. First, there’s the search for a diagnosis, then there are potential treatments, not to mention the other conditions—such as ADHD or gastrointestinal issues—sometimes associated with ASD.  All this means you’ve almost certainly come

Medical professionals and researchers often consult the DSM-5, a manual sometimes referred to as the bible of mental conditions. In this article the criteria for an autism diagnosis according to the DSM-5 will be examined. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM–5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) is a manual often cited

When people hear the word “autism,” they probably don’t picture babies. After all, most aren’t diagnosed until they’re toddlers or even older. But ASD does exist in infants, and detecting it early on can make a difference for your child’s behavioral development and functioning in the future. In this article, we’ll discuss what you can

Autism spectrum disorders are often characterized by language impairments. Dyslexia also manifests in language deficits…which begs the question of a possible connection between the two. An autism diagnosis may explain some of your child’s challenging behavior, but parents are often left wondering whether every symptom is autism related. To add to the confusion, autism is

With more experience and less exhausted eyes, grandparents often play a huge role in bringing autism symptoms to the attention of new parents. “It takes a village to raise a child”—just hearing this phrase might evoke images of a bygone era, in which extended family, neighbors, and regular citizens all had a hands-on role to

Diving straight into the controversial nature of this topic, perhaps the title should have been: Is Borderline Autism a Real Diagnosis? The term borderline autism probably exists because autism is difficult to diagnose—much of the challenge lies in the fact that autism is a spectrum disorder. The spectrum is wide, and the borders create as

The days following a diagnosis of autism might feel like a grieving period for some parents. They may need to take some time to process what the diagnosis means for their child and family.  They may need to grieve for the life they thought their child would have. This may take some time, then, after

A look at how the diagnosis of asperger’s disorder being replaced with the broader diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has had an impact on a mother and son. Prior to 2013, individuals diagnosed with asperger’s disorder were described as possessing degrees of characteristics that were distinct and different from neurotypical people. Though varying from one

It is harrowing for parents to suspect something is different about their child. It is a situation that becomes even more challenging if suspicions are not validated by an accurate diagnosis in a timely manner. Many parents who suspect their child may be showing signs of autism, among other developmental and physical differences, learn quickly

Certain health conditions may be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These are described below, though there is no evidence for a causal relationship with ASD. Sensory processing difficulties Children with ASD often have difficulty processing everyday sensory information in all senses, from noise to touch to smells, sounds, and tastes. Any of the senses