How is autism diagnosed?

After talking with a child’s caregivers, a pediatrician may recommend seeing a specialist who is qualified to evaluate and diagnose autism. In order to identify if a child has developmental delays, providers will often use screening questionnaires.

If a child shows signs in their screening that a condition like autism might be present, the provider should recommend that the child sees a specialist who can make a diagnosis. Diagnostic tools typically rely on the observations of caregivers and direct behavioral observation. It is important that your provider use multiple screening and diagnostic tools to consider all behavioral, social, and environmental factors.

See our article Diagnosing Autism to learn about which professionals are qualified to do this, the diagnostic tools they use, and the pros and cons of seeking a diagnosis in order to start early intervention therapies.