Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is when an individual has difficulties in communication, socialization, and displays restricted interests or repetitive behaviors.
Many children go through phases where they are interested in a topic and seem to submerge themselves in it – learning all about the topic and wanting toys and food to be related to their favorite character or topic. Some children with ADHD also hyperfocus on topics (one really good reason to get a differential diagnosis by a trained clinician). The difference between a child with neurodivergence and another child fixating on a topic tends to be intensity and flexibility. A child with ADHD who is hyperfocusing has difficulty shifting their attention away from a topic, but once it is shifted, they are happy to interact with other toys or talk about other topics. A child with Autism may not be as flexible which could lead to emotion dysregulation.
My kid isn’t talking. Can I just assume my child has Autism. Why is it important to get my child evaluated?
There are alternatives explanations for lack of communication. For example, some children with anxiety have difficulty communicating with others. Children with Selective Mutism may display some core features of autism like communication difficulties and lack of eye contact, but the treatment for these two diagnoses are very different!
Why is it important to get a diagnosis?
I empathize with those in the neurodivergent community who don’t want a label. Unfortunately, a proper diagnosis serves as a “gatekeeper” to accessing treatment. There are many different types of treatments that can be effective for your child and many are covered by your insurance with a diagnosis. Children with Autism have greater access to a variety of services through most insurances than any other psychological diagnoses. There is a lot of research that indicates that early intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders leads to the best outcomes in regard to future functioning.
What happens during an Autism assessment?
There are several components to an Autism assessment. The most important piece is an in depth interview with caregivers (and teachers). Dr. Clarke utilizes a play based assessment instrument to observe your child’s social and communication abilities in real time. Your child will also participate in a variety of tasks to assess their cognitive abilities. Depending on the age, your child (or teen) will also answer some questions about themselves.