AUTISM DIAGNOSIS
How Does Autism Evaluation Work?
A MOTHER DETAILS WHAT TO EXPECT FROM AN AUTISM EVALUATION, AND ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO NOT SHY AWAY FROM THE PROCESS—REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME.
By Rachel ANDERSEN
C anI ask you a question? Don’t get mad at me or anything ok?” my friend Heather tentatively said to me one sunny afternoon on my back porch.
“Have you ever thought that Owen may be on the autism spectrum?”
The question hit me with such force, it almost took my breath away. I had never considered it. Why had I never considered it?
I knew about autism. My oldest son had tests showing he was on the spectrum 10 years before. I couldn’t answer her because Owen began melting down, for the third time that morning, and I had to tend to him.
Autism looks different for every person. Even someone well-versed on the subject may not recognize it right away. Sometimes we know deep down, but we don’t want to know officially.
Going through an autism evaluation with your child and obtaining an official diagnosis can seem daunting and terrifying. Here is the thing, without an official diagnosis, your child may not be able to get the services and support they may need throughout their lifetime.
In this article, I will give an overview of the autism evaluation process, and share some other information. I hope you will find it encouraging and useful.
Autism evaluation:
Where to start?
Wellness check-ups generally go quickly. There are many factors that pediatricians look for when assessing a child’s general development. Any developmental concerns are often given more time, or referred to another physician.
The manner in which symptoms of autism present as a child grows, the severity of each, and the amount of time a child spends in the doctor’s office, could affect a doctor’s ability to identify the need for an autism evaluation. Oftens, parents are the ones asking questions, alerting their child’s doctor when they notice differences in their child, or expressing concerns over their child’s behavior.