Diagnosis for a child with ASD begins with concerns brought up by parents, educators, or medical staff; which often produce a referral to a developmental pediatrician, neurologist, psychologist, or other specialist. These individuals can perform a diagnostic evaluation to make an accurate determination. The evaluation can be done independently or may include a team of professionals. In many cases, conditions that might cause similar delays are ruled out through genetic tests, MRI's, and other blood tests. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's development, or if you are an adolescent or an adult that has heard about autism and has more questions, the best course of action is to speak with your pediatrician or family practitioner. A candid discussion about delays in communication and social or behavioral challenges will help determine if any further evaluation or assessments are necessary. For those facing a new diagnosis or working with newly diagnosed families or individuals, we encourage you to read through the links on this page and through our entire Resources section. The resources in this section are designed to help you understand the red flags or warning signs of ASD, when and how individuals should be screened for evaluation, and how an individual may be diagnosed with ASD.
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