Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Diagnosis of Autism

There is no blood, or similar, test which can identify autism. Diagnosis is made by taking a developmental history and observing behaviour.

It often may not be possible to make a diagnosis in children until the age of 3 or 4 when the typical behaviour becomes more obvious. In some cases, however, the diagnosis may be suspected as early as the first year of life.

Three criteria are needed to confirm autism. They are:

• Definite and apparently long-term impairment of the willingness or ability to engage in social interaction
• Definite impairment in the normal willingness or ability to communicate
• Repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, activities and interests

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