Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects many children and their families in the United States. ASD presents with a wide range of symptoms, and the severity of each can differ from child to child. Diagnosing a child with ASD is not the simplest of tasks, even in the world we live in today. While early detection is vital, it is not always possible. There is a wide variety of treatment for children with ASD. However treatment is not a cure for the disorder.
Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that is more common in today's society than ever before. Experts estimate that 1 out of every eighty-eight children age 8 will have some form of ASD (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Morbidity and Mortality weekly report, March 30, 2012). Autism spectrum disorder covers a group of disabilities that can cause social, communication, and behavior problems. Currently, ASD's are considered to be one of the most severe developmental disabilities (Martinez-Sanchis et.al.2013). .
Diagnosing.
Autism spectrum disorder can be detected as early as 18 months of age. For this reason, pediatricians are recommended to perform routine specific ASD screenings at the age of 18 months and again at twenty-four months, in the United States (Brentani et.al 2013). Screening for ASD is not always an exact science, and may include more than one type of evaluation. Screening for DSM criteria consists of a validated checklist, the behavior checklist-parent (DBC-P), the autism behavior checklist (ABC), the autism screening questionnaire (ASQ) (Brentani et. al, 2013). While considering a diagnoses for ASD doctors should consider the above mentioned checklists, but also the history of the child. History of the child includes: previous evaluations, the pregnancy, marking of milestones, and the family history of ASD. Children that are considered high risk for ASD, are children whose family or a branch of family have some type of ASD.
