Why don pediatricians screen all infants and toddlers for ASD during their well child visits?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is urging pediatricians to do just that, and routinely screen all children for signs of autism at 18 and 24 months of age. Thus, by the age of 2, every child would receive two screenings. In November of 2007 a new clinical report was published by the American Academy of Pediatrics stating that pediatricians must be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorders and have a strategy to systematically address them. The report stated that pediatricians must also be aware of local resources that can assist in the diagnosis and management of ASD. In order to do this, pediatricians must be familiar with developmental, educational, and community resources. The document provides a surveillance and screening method to be used by pediatricians to help them develop a strategy for early identification of children with ASD. It is complemented by a toolkit titled, “Autism: Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Resource To
