Diagnoses for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neuro-developmental disorder affecting developmental skills across a “spectrum” that ranges from extremely mild to very severe, affecting communication, social behavior, and development of other skills. 

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms can appear in children as young as 18 months. There is no medical test for autism, such as a blood test. A skilled evaluator can accurately identify children on the autism spectrum by the age of 2 years.

Social Communication and Interaction Skills

Social communication and interaction skills can be challenging for people with ASD. 

Baby - Human Age, Waving - Gesture, Child, Happiness, Looking At Camera. 

Examples of social communication and social interaction characteristics related to ASD can include:

• Avoiding or does not keep eye contact. 
• Does not respond to name by 9 months of age. 
• Does not show facial expressions like happy, sad, angry, and surprised by 9 months of age. 
• Does not play simple interactive games like pat-a-cake by 12 months of age. 
• Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age (for example, does not wave goodbye). 
• Does not share interests with others by 15 months of age (for example, shows you an object that they like).
• Does not point to show you something interesting by 18 months of age.
• Does not notice when others are hurt or upset by 24 months of age.
• Does not notice other children and join them in play by 36 months of age.
• Does not pretend to be something else, like a teacher or superhero, during play by 48 months of age.
• Does not sing, dance, or act for you by 60 months of age.

Restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests

People with ASD have behaviors or interests that can seem unusual. These behaviors or interests set ASD apart from conditions defined by problems with social communication and interaction only.

Examples of restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests related to ASD can include:

• Close-up of child playing with toy blocks on the carpet.
• Lines up toys or other objects and gets upset when order is changed
• Repeats words or phrases over and over (called echolalia)
• Plays with toys the same way every time
• Is focused on parts of objects (for example, wheels)
• Gets upset by minor changes
• Has obsessive interests
• Must follow certain routines
• Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles
• Has unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

Other Characteristics

Most people with ASD have other related characteristics. These might include

• Delayed language skills
• Delayed movement skills
• Delayed cognitive or learning skills
• Hyperactive, impulsive, and/or inattentive behavior
• Epilepsy or seizure disorder
• Unusual eating and sleeping habits
• Gastrointestinal issues (for example, constipation)
• Unusual mood or emotional reactions
• Anxiety, stress, or excessive worry
• Lack of fear or more fear than expected

It is important to note that children with ASD may not have all or any of the behaviors listed as examples here.

The Learning Center's Diagnostic and Resource Center can conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine if your child has Autism. In addition to the individual testing conducted, the child psychologist consults with other professionals who have knowledge of your child'ss abilities to determine if he/she meets the criteria for a diagnosis of Autism.

Myth: People with autism don’t want friends.

People with autism struggle with social skills, making it difficult to interact with others.  They may seem shy or unfriendly, but this is because they cannot communicate with others well or appropriately.

Myth: People with autism cannot feel or express any pleasant or unpleasant emotion.

The truth is that autism doesn’t make an individual unable to feel emotions; it just makes the person communicate feelings differently.

Myth: People with autism are intellectually disabled.

Often, autism brings with it just as many exceptional abilities as challenges.  Many people with autism have normal to high IQs; some may excel in a specific area of study or a particular talent or ability.

Myth: People with autism will outgrow it.

Autism is a biological condition that affects brain development, and for many people, the effects of this condition are something they must deal with their entire lives.

Myth: Autism only affects children.

Children with autism grow up to become adults with autism.

Once a child receives a diagnosis, the child is eligible to receive intensive intervention ranging from 10-30 hours a week. This intervention consists of a 1:1 technician working just with your child on acquiring necessary skills or dropping unproductive behaviors. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) supervises all of our technicians. 

First, we evaluate the child to determine the areas of need and how much therapy they may require. After completing the child evaluation, you can submit a request for intervention based on Applied Behavior Analysis to Medicaid and any insurance that covers the child. Insurance policies typically grant prior approval for six months of intervention. 

For further intervention after six months, you will have to submit a new request based on a new assessment.

If a parent knows their child has autism, they should contact their Family Services Coordinator or teacher at The Learning Center and let them know their child has received an ASD diagnosis. The Family Services Coordinator will discuss with them what steps to take to obtain specific intervention for their child.