Autism is a neurological disorder affecting a child’s behavior, perception and communication skills. Until the middle of 20th century, this disorder had no name. Till today researchers have not been able to find a specific cure for Autism. The main reason being, this condition has varied symptoms for varied individuals. There is no accurate measure to detect autistic conditions in a child. Thus, diagnosing autism in children is a complex problem.

Early Diagnosis Checklist

To the relief of many parents, scientist and doctors have been able to nail down specific behavior patterns that can help in diagnosing autism in children as young as 18 months. The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development considers following behaviors as signs of Autism in children:

• Does not babble by 12 months
• Does not respond to gestures
• Unable to utter single words by 16 months
• Loss of language at an older ag
• Lack of sociability

Do not panic if your child shows some of these characteristics; instead get further tests done by a neurologist, psychologist and other professionals.

Consult a Pediatrician

A pediatrician understands a child’s behavioral and physical needs best. They are well aware of the various developmental stages and can make judgment based on that. Parents must explicitly explain their child’s behavioral and other tendencies to the doctor. Based on it, a pediatrician will be able to decide whether the child is within normal parameters or not.

Since there is no set of rules which indicate autism in children, the only way is to look at various possibilities. If a child has problem communicating or shows lack of speech development, it could be due to deafness. A lack of interest in toys, self-destructive behavior or violent nature can also be a sign of mental retardation. Thus, all behavioral and physical disorders do not point towards Autism.

Early diagnosis of autism in children can help in a much more effective treatment and reduction in its symptoms.

Seek Help from Specialists

Specialists are people trained in treating autism. They have a variety of instruments that help in making accurate analysis. Specialists hold a series of tests on the autistic child; hold structured interviews with parents and so on. Rating scales and developmental inventories help make predictions about a child’s socialization and coping up skills. There are a few I.Q. tests that determine a child’s intelligence based on standardized criteria.

Specialists use videos and photos to compare the behavior of the child from the time when first signs were shown till the present age. They also help families deal with the situation and design specialized therapies to treat autism in children.

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