How can I find out if my child has Asperger’s Syndrome?
Currently, awareness of Asperger’s appears to be increasing. While this is positive, some confusion continues to exist among professionals about diagnosing the condition. For this reason, it will be important to work with someone who either has some pre-existing knowledge of Asperger’s, or who is willing to learn more about it. Physicians, psychologists, therapists, and educators are usually among the first people to identify Asperger symptoms. Consulting with a trusted person in any of these fields would likely be a good first step. They can then either help you directly, or can refer you to someone else within the community who can. Accurate diagnosis often involves testing by the use of questionnaires, check lists, clinical interview, psychological tests and possibly medical examination. Different professions emphasize different means of identification. If you believe you or your child may qualify for a diagnosis of Asperger’s, or another autism spectrum disorder, taking that first
