ASNB - Early Identification & Diagnosis

~ Early diagnosis is critical since intensive early intervention is associated with much better outcomes.

It is important to obtain an early assessment and diagnosis, ideally by a team consisting of a psychologist, child psychiatrist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist and a paediatrician. Diagnosis is based upon observation of the child's behaviour, parent consultation, and a history of the child's early development.

These symptoms/characteristics normally appear before three years of age, and in many, before two years of age:

1.Communication Impairment
- Speech absence or delay
- Poor understanding of gestures
- Difficulty with abstract concepts
- Obsession with one topic - perseveration
- Repetition of sounds - echolalia
- Difficulty initiating and/or sustaining conversation

2.Delays in Social Interaction
- Lack of response to people, words, sounds and/or physical contact
- Little or no appropriate play with toys
- Preference to being alone
- Inappropriate laughter or screaming
- Strong, inappropriate attachment to objects

3.Atypical Behaviours
- Strong resistance to changes in routine
- Self-stimulatory behaviour (rocking, hand-flapping, spinning)
- Hyper or hypo sensitivity to sounds, touch, sight, taste and/or smell
- Insensitivity to pain, cold or heat
- Temper tantrums
- Self-injurious behaviour
- Limitation of interests and repertoire of activities

4.Learning Deficits
- Difficulty relating learned skills from one environment to another
- Generalization
- Uneven learning patterns (poor skills in some areas, exceptional abilities in others)

Many individuals present with the symptoms listed above, although some may not display all, and others may display different combinations (Autism Society New Brunswick).

Medical Research Prevalence

What Can We Do?

ASNB

Last Updated: December 30th, 2004