About Autism

Diagnosis of Autism

• Evaluation based on observation

  When parents or support providers become concerned that their child is not following a typical developmental course, they turn to experts, including psychologists, educators and medical professionals, for a diagnosis.

  Some people with autism may appear to have an intellectual disability, sensory processing issues, or problems with hearing or vision. To complicate matters further, these conditions can co-occur with autism.  It is important to distinguish autism from other conditions, as an accurate and early autism diagnosis can provide the basis for an appropriate educational and treatment program.

  Other medical conditions or syndromes, such as sensory processing disorder, can present symptoms that are confusingly similar to autism’s. This is known as differential diagnosis.

  There are many differences between a medical diagnosis and an educational determination, or school evaluation, of a disability. A medical diagnosis is made by a physician based on an assessment of symptoms and diagnostic tests. A medical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, for instance, is most frequently made by a physician according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5, released 2013) of the American Psychological Association. This manual guides physicians in diagnosing autism spectrum disorder according to a specific number of symptoms.

• A brief observation in a single setting cannot present a true picture of someone’s abilities and behaviors.

  The person’s developmental history and input from parents, caregivers and/or teachers are important components of an accurate diagnosis.

  An educational determination is made by a multidisciplinary evaluation team of various school professionals. The evaluation results are reviewed by a team of qualified professionals and the parents to determine whether a student qualifies for special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Hawkins, 2009).

• Places in Western New York to get an Autism Diagnosis

  Children’s Guild Autism Spectrum Disorder Center in Buffalo

  Located at Oishei Children’s Outpatient Center, the ASD center takes a team-based approach to evaluation. During one visit, each child is seen by a developmental pediatrician, child neurologist, and child psychologist. After the visit, the team discusses the child and determines the diagnosis and/or need for any additional testing or services. The Center has a full time social worker and nurse and offers a monthly parent group, newly diagnosed sessions and information resources for parents of children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.  716-323-6560

  Levine Autism Clinic at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester  

  Levine Autism Clinic is part of the National Autism Treatment Network.   They provide evaluation and diagnosis of children who are suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder.   After the diagnosis, they also provide comprehensive and co-ordinated care , monitoring development, progress, treating health problems associate with ASD and assessing and treating behavioral problems.   They also link families to needed resources and connect them to community supports.    585-275-2986

  Contact the Autism Society WNY Chapter for a list of private individuals/agencies who also do diagnosis.  716-633-2275 or info@autismwny.org

   

Co-occuring Conditions

• There are several medical conditions that have been shown to be significantly more prevalent in those with autism spectrum disorder ASD  than the general population.

  Autism is a whole body disorder diagnosed by what is observable, however these signs and symptoms are often the result of underlying co-occuring conditions.  Knowing what to look for is the first step in getting the most appropriate treatment.

• Some common co-occuring conditions found in those with autism:

  • Autoimmune conditions
  • Seizure disorders
  • Esophagitis
  • Gastritis
  • Reflux
  • Asthma
  • Eczema
  • Allergies
  • Ear infections
  • Respiratory infections
  • Migraine headaches
  • Allergy disorder (including non IgE-mediated disorders or food intolerances)

  At times, it may be difficult for a health care practitioner to properly assess a patient with an ASD.  The parent or caregiver may not have known to watch for certain signs because they were told that ‘it was just the autism’.  There may be communication barriers or challenging behaviors preventing an obvious observation of a symptom, or perhaps the patient they themselves don’t know where the pain originates from.  It is then that it becomes even more important for the practitioner to be able to recognize some of the behaviors indicating an underlying comorbid condition.

• Behaviours which may indicate other underlying conditions

  • Sudden changes in behavior
  • Agression
  • Covering ears with hands
  • Loss of acquired skills
  • Irritability or moodiness
  • Frequent night waking or difficulty falling asleep
  • Teeth grinding
  • Walking on toes
  • Tantrums or oppositional behaviour
  • Self-injurious behaviour (biting, hitting, slapping, head-banging, etc.)
  • Chewing on clothes or objects
  • Vocal expressions (moaning, whining, groaning, sighing)
  • Posturing or seeking pressure
  • Repetitive rocking or other movements

• Common sources of pain and discomfort (chronic, progressive or static)

  • Headache
  • Earache
  • Sore throat
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Muscle pain
  • Joint pain

  This information excerpted from the Medical Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorder, A Primer for Health Care Professionals and Policy Makers, July 2014.

Facts & Statistics

• • About 1 percent of the world population has autism spectrum disorder. (CDC, 2014)
  • Prevalence in the United States is estimated at 1 in 59 births. (CDC, 2014)
  • More than 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder. (Buescher et al., 2014)
  • Prevalence of autism in U.S. children increased by 119.4 percent from 2000 (1 in 150) to 2010 (1 in 68). (CDC, 2014) Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability. (CDC, 2008)
  • Prevalence has increased by 6-15 percent each year from 2002 to 2010. (Based on biennial numbers from the CDC)
  • Autism services cost U.S. citizens $236-262 billion annually. (Buescher et al., 2014)
  • A majority of costs in the U.S. are in adult services – $175-196 billion, compared to $61-66 billion for children. (Buescher et al., 2014)
  • Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention. (Autism. 2007 Sep;11(5):453-63; The economic consequences of autistic spectrum disorder among children in a Swedish municipality. Järbrink K1.)
  • 1 percent of the adult population of the United Kingdom has autism spectrum disorder. (Brugha T.S. et al., 2011)
  • The U.S. cost of autism over the lifespan is about $2.4 million for a person with an intellectual disability, or $1.4 million for a person without intellectual disability. (Buescher et al., 2014)
  • 35 percent of young adults (ages 19-23) with autism have not had a job or received postgraduate education after leaving high school. (Shattuck et al., 2012)
  • It costs more than $8,600 extra per year to educate a student with autism. (Lavelle et al., 2014) (The average cost of educating a student is about $12,000 – NCES, 2014)
  • In June 2014, only 19.3 percent of people with disabilities in the U.S. were participating in the labor force – working or seeking work. Of those, 12.9 percent were unemployed, meaning only 16.8 percent of the population with disabilities was employed. (By contrast, 69.3 percent of people without disabilities were in the labor force, and 65 percent of the population without disabilities was employed.) (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014)

Screening Tools

• As Early as 18 months

  Research has found that Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) can sometimes be detected at 18 months or younger. By age 2, a diagnosis by an experienced professional can be considered very reliable. However, many children do not receive a final diagnosis until they are much older. This delay means that children with an ASD might not get the help they need. The earlier an ASD is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin.

  Developmental Screening Tools

  Screening tools are designed to help identify children who might have developmental delays. Screening tools do not provide conclusive evidence of developmental delays and do not result in diagnoses. A positive screening result should be followed up with your child’s health care provider immediately if you think something is wrong.

  Types of Screening Tools

  There are many different developmental screening tools that may be admistered by professionals, community service providers and in some cases parents. These include:

  • Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ)
  • Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales (CSBS)
  • Parent’s Evaluation of Development Status (PEDS)
  • Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)
  • Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT)
  • Observation tools such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-G)
  • The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS)
  • The Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R)

  This list is not exhaustive, and other tests are available.

  Online Tools

  For your convenience, Autism Canada has four online screening tools available based on the age of the individual being screened.

Informational Links

Asperger's & HF Resources

Informational Links