08/09/2025
Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening
Autism assessment starts at birth, but age 18 months through 3 years is a key period where every child should be screened with the M-CHAT questionnaire. As symptoms are identified referrals for Speech, physical, and occupational therapy should be initiated to see if therapy can recover any deficits.
The need for an individual therapy does not mean your child is autistic.
Some autism cases are extremely subtle and may not be identified till later in life. Extremely intelligent children who have poor socialization skills and do not understand social cues can be determined to be Autistic. Examples would be Elon Musk, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Eminem, Mark Zuckerberg, Susan Boyles, Kody Lee, Tim Burton, and Temple Grandin. These individuals were considered to have Asperger’s Syndrome until 2013 when all forms of autism were combined into the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The Spectrum can range from physically and mentally incapacitated requiring constant care to genius IQ with poor socialization skills. The genius level would have been called eccentric, quirky, odd, or weird back in the day.
The video shows some of the things we look for when assessing for autism.
We also look for poor language development, avoiding eye contact, poor executive functioning( the ability to control emotions, behaviors, or decision making)!
The more profound the incapacity is the quicker a child can be diagnosed with Autism. Therapy for any developmental problem should not be delayed until the final diagnosis is given. Early intervention is the key to help each child reach their potential. Speech delay is especially important to address early since learning sign language and other communication devices are easier to incorporate at an early age.
Parents cannot beat Autism out of a child. Autistic children can learn through structured play, routine, and boundaries to follow basic rules. Routine is fundamentally important for all children!
If you are concerned about your child’s physical, mental, emotional, or social development please notify your provider!
