Autism Is Usually Diagnosed By Age Three
Autism is a complex disorder of neural development for which there is no documented cure to date. Autism is usually characterized by a broad spectrum of symptoms including impaired communication, hindered social interactions, language delays, and repetitive or restrictive behaviors. Symptoms may change and evolve over the course of a lifetime but all of the signs appear before a child reaches the age of three. New research exists that may even be able to push back the diagnostic age to as early as six months.
There currently isn’t a medical test for autism. The diagnosis is instead based on behavioral observation as well as educational and psychological testing. Typically it is the parents that are the first to notice unusual behavior or a failure to reach developmental milestones. In some case parents report that their child seemed to be developing normally only to lose skills later. Other parents notice differences in their child from birth. Unfortunately, some pediatricians may dismiss early warning signs assuming the child will ‘catch up’ eventually. At the appearance of any early warning signs of ASD parents should opt to have their child evaluated by a specialist who’s main focus is disorders of the Autism Spectrum.You thought this was good? Brace yourself: Environment blamed for autism
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