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Looking for an autism diagnosis? ABA Centers of America offers comprehensive autism screening, testing, and diagnosis for families seeking answers.
How is Autism Diagnosed in Young Children?
Autism in young children is diagnosed through developmental monitoring, screening questionnaires, autism-specific evaluations, and observations by qualified specialists. Because there is no single medical test for autism, the process typically involves reviewing a child’s communication, behavior, social skills, and developmental history.
If you’ve noticed that your child has trouble adapting to social situations or their communication skills differ from those of other children, you might wonder if your child has autism. Since autism can present differently from child to child, it can be difficult for parents to know what is happening or what steps to take next.
For this reason, many parents ask, “How is autism diagnosed?” Maybe you’ve done some online research, but still feel unsure about how to help your child. The process of diagnosing autism can feel confusing because it often includes autism screening, autism testing, and a formal autism diagnosis.
Early Signs of Autism in Young Children
Early signs of autism in young children can help parents determine whether it may be time to take the next steps toward autism testing, screening, and diagnosis. These signs may appear in your child’s behavior and development, including:
- Not smiling when expected
- Not responding when you say their name
- Preferring to play alone
- Not looking at objects when you point them out
- Not responding to facial expressions
Additionally, your child may be highly sensitive to certain lights, textures, scents, or sounds. Some children may also show a strong memory for songs, letters, or numbers. If your child struggles to socialize with other children their age, this may also be a possible sign that an autism diagnosis should be explored.
How Is Autism Diagnosed in Young Children?
Because there is no single medical test for autism, such as a blood test, diagnosing autism requires a careful evaluation of a child’s development, behavior, communication, and social interaction. However, there are clear steps parents can take, after which a qualified professional may provide an official autism diagnosis.
The process usually includes developmental monitoring, developmental screening, autism testing, and a final diagnostic evaluation from a specialist.
Developmental Monitoring for Autism in Young Children
If you’ve noticed early signs of autism in young children, the CDC recommends developmental monitoring as an important next step. Parents can do this at home, often with the help of caregivers, teachers, or family members who know the child well.
Developmental monitoring means paying attention to how your child grows and changes over time. This includes observing whether your child is meeting age-appropriate milestones in areas such as:
- Movement
- Behavior
- Speech
- Learning
- Play
- Social interaction
If you and other caregivers notice that your child is not meeting expected milestones, you may want to speak with your family doctor or pediatrician about an autism diagnosis. You can also ask your child’s healthcare provider to conduct regular developmental monitoring. During these visits, they may ask questions about your child’s behavior and interact with your child through play and conversation.
If developmental monitoring suggests that your child may have autism, the next step is usually developmental screening.
Developmental Screening for Autism in Young Children
Developmental screening is a more formal step in diagnosing autism. It is usually completed by a nurse, doctor, or another professional in a school, community, or healthcare setting. Screening is often recommended when parents or providers have concerns after developmental monitoring.
For all children, developmental screening is recommended at 9, 18, and 30 months. Some studies show that one in four children under age 6 may be at risk for a developmental delay or disability. Because of this, developmental screening is important whether or not you already suspect autism.
If you are concerned about autism in young children, autism-specific screening is also commonly recommended at 24 months and at other times if developmental concerns continue.
During a developmental screening, you may be asked to complete a questionnaire about your child, or your child may take a short test. These tools typically focus on specific areas of development, including:
- Emotions
- Behavior
- Thinking
- Movement
- Language
Some factors, such as lead exposure, low birth weight, and preterm birth, may increase the likelihood of developmental concerns. In these cases, your child’s healthcare provider may recommend more frequent developmental screening.
If your child’s healthcare provider does not offer these screenings, you can ask whether they are available or request a referral.
Developmental Screening Questionnaires for Autism
Several tools are commonly used during developmental screening for autism in young children. These may include:
- The Ages and Stages Questionnaire SE-2: This questionnaire is completed by parents and includes questions about communication, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and problem-solving.
- The Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales: This checklist is completed by parents when a child is between 6 and 24 months old. It focuses on early communication and symbolic behavior.
- The Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status: This tool asks parents 10 questions about their child’s development and behavior.
- The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers: This autism-specific screening tool includes 20 questions for parents and is often used when evaluating possible signs of autism in toddlers.
If you need help understanding the results of any developmental screening, speak with your child’s doctor. Depending on the results, the next step may be autism testing with a specialist.
Autism Testing and Diagnosing Autism
Autism testing is usually completed by a specialist, such as a developmental pediatrician, child psychologist, pediatric neurologist, or child psychiatrist. It is important to note that there is not one single autism evaluation test. Instead, specialists use a combination of autism-specific assessments, parent interviews, observations, and developmental history.
If you are wondering how doctors diagnose autism, the process often begins with these specialized evaluations.
The Tests
- The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule: When an expert uses this test, they will observe your child’s repetitive behavior, play, communication, and social skills. Tests vary depending on your child’s age.
- Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised: During this test, the specialist will speak with you about your child’s past and current behaviors related to autism.
- The Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition: This is a 15-question test that will help the specialist determine whether your child has another condition besides autism. This is an important test, as some children might have a condition easily confused with autism (such as ADHD). They might also have a combination of conditions.
Additional Evaluations
In addition to autism-specific diagnostic tests, a specialist may also evaluate your child’s:
- Cognition
- Motor skills
- Language development
- Vision
- Hearing
These additional evaluations help create a clearer picture of your child’s development and ensure that the final autism diagnosis is as accurate as possible.
Getting an Autism Diagnosis for Young Children
After your child has completed the recommended screenings and tests, a qualified professional may provide an official autism diagnosis. This professional may be a child psychologist, child psychiatrist, pediatric neurologist, or developmental pediatrician.
When diagnosing autism, specialists often use the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, along with test results, behavioral observations, and input from parents or caregivers.
To support an accurate diagnosis, it is important for the specialist to understand your child’s behavior well. Ideally, your child will complete a thorough evaluation that provides the specialist with enough information about how your child communicates, plays, learns, and interacts with others.
When you receive an autism diagnosis from a specialist, this is considered an official medical diagnosis. A medical diagnosis differs from an educational determination, which occurs when school professionals decide whether a child qualifies for special education services.
Autism Treatment After Diagnosis
Once your child receives an autism diagnosis in the form of a diagnostic report, you can begin exploring appropriate therapy, schooling, and care options. Early support can help children build communication, social, behavioral, and daily living skills.
ABA Therapy for Autism in Young Children
At ABA Centers of America, we specialize in helping families create the brightest future possible. We are here to help children grow, learn, and lead fulfilling lives through compassionate, evidence-based autism care.
Our therapists are licensed and board-certified, and we have experience supporting individuals across the autism spectrum and across age groups. Whether your child has recently received an autism diagnosis or you are still looking for answers, our team can help guide you through the next steps.
To learn more about how we can help, call us at (844) 923-4222 for a free consultation with one of our autism treatment professionals or fill out our online form.
