In most cases, parents are the first people to raise concerns about their child’s development and behaviour, as symptoms tend to become visible after the age of 12 months. Some people with very mild symptoms may not be diagnosed until later in life but most cases are diagnosed between the ages of one and three years old.
Going to the GP
At your consultation with the GP, your GP will ask you questions about your child’s behaviour and observe your child for a short period of time. They may carry out tests, such as blood tests and a hearing test to rule out health conditions or hearing problems. If your child is pre-school age, they may carry out a basic screening test known as CHAT (Checklist for Autism in Toddlers), which consists of a series of questions relating to your child’s behaviour, their habits and their interaction with you or with other children. Your GP may also spend time with your child and carry out some basic tests to see how they interact with other people and whether they engage in imaginative or pretend play.
If the results of the CHAT indicate that the child may have autism, the GP will refer the child to a health professional with experience in autism. This may be a child psychiatrist, a psychologist or a paediatrician.
The assessment process
The assessment process is rigorous and involves a number of different stages. You will be asked to provide detailed information about your family history, your child’s medical history, their behaviour and their development. Parents are asked to attend interviews and records and information may be obtained from agencies that have cared for the child, such as a nursery or pre-school.
Your child will also be asked to attend a series of appointments so that the specialist can observe their behaviour and carry out specific tests, which are designed to assess specific skills and traits; this is known as focused observation.
Your child will also undergo physical tests to test for genetic conditions which are known to cause symptoms of autism, such as Fragile X syndrome and Rett syndrome.
After diagnosis
Everyone who is diagnosed with ASD will be referred to a specialist team, who will cater for all aspects of the individual’s care. The team will be made up of a variety of different health professionals, who work alongside educational specialists, social services and parents and carers.
