Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. It is characterized by difficulties in social communication and social interaction, as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for children with autism to receive appropriate care and support. When we got to Arizona our first step was to get our son evaluated for support services. I really thought he only had a speech delay. They recommended he receive speech therapy and occupational therapy. However, his pediatrician as well as the evaluators all felt he could possibly be autistic. The thing is none of them were qualified to give a diagnosis of autism. Naturally, I wondered can a therapist diagnose autism?
What were some of the autism symptoms we noticed in our son?
As always let me preface this by saying, ASD is a spectrum disorder. Meaning that it can affect people in different ways and to varying degrees. Some people with ASD may not need as much support as others.
When our son turned 18 months of age we enrolled him in a Spanish-only school. I wanted to try to teach him Spanish and knew I needed help since my family wasn’t near. He started off doing so well. He was counting in both English and Spanish. Then one day his teacher said to me “He isn’t listening to me anymore. I call his name to get his attention, but I have to physically go touch him because he’s so involved in what he’s doing that it’s like he doesn’t hear me.” I got his hearing checked to see if that was the problem, but it wasn’t.
Other things we noticed:
- Wouldn’t play with other children
- Wouldn’t respond to his name
- Lining up toys
- His language started regressing
- Didn’t pretend play
- repetitive behaviors
I know as parents we always tell each other not to compare our kids to others. However, when he was younger he seemed to be hitting his milestones, but then he just stopped. Thinking back he probably wasn’t hitting as many as I thought and I was just being optimistic.
Do therapists diagnose autism?
While doctors and specialists typically diagnose autism, some people may wonder if therapists can also diagnose the condition. Since our son’s therapists (speech-language pathologist and occupational therapist) specialize in working with individuals on the autism spectrum and have experience recognizing the common traits associated with autism. They were the ones who helped us identify the potential red flags for ASD. Their support was so vital to us because we all work collaboratively with each other to ensure he receives appropriate care.
What professionals diagnose autism?
Autism is typically diagnosed by health professionals, this includes:
- Developmental pediatricians
- Child psychologist
- Child psychiatrists
- Neurologists
Even though our son’s therapists noticed the red flags and suspected he was autistic they referred us to our child’s pediatrician. The pediatrician also agreed with their observations however she referred us to a developmental pediatrician for a formal evaluation.
A developmental pediatrician is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of developmental and behavioral disorders in children. They are trained to evaluate and diagnose a range of conditions that affect a child’s growth and development, including autism, intellectual disability, learning disabilities, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
How is Autism diagnosed?
A medical diagnosis of Autism spectrum disorder is most frequently made according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5, released 2013) of the American Psychiatric Association. I should also mention, there are no medical tests, such as blood tests or brain scans, for diagnosing Autism. We made a 3-hour drive to get his autism assessment done. I will admit after that long car ride he was most definitely not feeling the evaluation. When we got in the office she began with the assessment process which included:
- A medical history of my pregnancy (I was high-risk and had a lot of complications)
- Our child’s developmental history (Developmental milestones)
- Sensory challenges
- Medical illnesses, including ear infections and seizures (he was hospitalized twice)
- Any family history of developmental disorders
- Any family history of genetic and metabolic disorders
- An assessment of cognitive functioning
- An assessment of language skills
- An Autism-specific observational test, interview, or rating scale
- A detailed history of our child
- She observed and talked to him
- Asking how he acts in a variety of settings
As you can see the diagnostic process is not just one screening tool. There are several tools, assessments, and tests used to give an autism diagnosis.
The Importance of Seeking Professional Evaluation for an Accurate Autism Diagnosis
At the end of the day, it starts with you voicing your concerns. Whether it be to a teacher, therapist, or doctor. Their observations and insights can be valuable in helping parents and caregivers recognize potential developmental delays and concerns. Make sure your voice is heard. It is important for anyone seeking an autism diagnosis to consult with a qualified medical professional to ensure accurate assessment, treatment planning, and support autistic people.
Once we finally got the diagnosis my husband and I started educating ourselves. We started scheduling treatment plans, and additional services we knew would help him. Every day is a learning experience for us. My anxiety has never been so high before. I have never felt so overwhelmed before. We lean on each other for comfort and support. We have friends and family who care about us. But we are the best advocates for our children.
[…] lifetime. We started noticing his special interests at the age of 3. It was about this time he got an official diagnosis. The only type of play he would engage in was parallel play. He absolutely loved his toy car and […]