Diagnosing Autism

Where to go for help

There are clinics and hospitals that provide consultation for patients of all ages, who have or may have autism, Asperger's disorder, or other forms of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD).

Services include diagnostic evaluation, helping families weigh intervention options and recommending treatments for problems common to patients with these diagnoses.

Clinical Services can be found in most metropolitan areas. Many clinics take some form of medical insurance for the assessment and medical diagnosis of autism.

Evaluations and Testing

Screening tools for autism are currently being investigated and refined in order to be able to diagnosis autism earlier. While there is no one behavioral or communication test that can detect autism, several screening instruments have been developed that are now used in diagnosing autism. Some of the Evaluation and Testing Tools (PDF) include Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) Internet Scoring Program, Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Childhood Autism Test (CHAT), The PDD Assessment/Screening Scale, AQ Test, and GADS: The Gilliam Asperger's Disorder Scale.

The Causes of Autism

Autism has no single cause. Researchers have identified a number of genes that play a role in the disorder. In some children, environmental factors also may play a role in development of the disorder. Studies of people with autism have found abnormalities in several regions of the brain, including the cerebellum, amygdala, hippocampus, septum, and mamillary bodies. Neurons in these regions appear smaller than normal and have stunted nerve fibers, which may interfere with nerve signaling. These abnormalities suggest that autism results from disruption of normal brain development early in fetal development. Other studies suggest that people with autism have abnormalities of serotonin or other signaling molecules in the brain. While these findings are intriguing, they are preliminary and require further study. The early belief that parental practices are responsible for autism has now been disproved.