How is ASD diagnosed? Is there a medical test?
There are no biological tests to confirm a diagnosis of autism. Identification of the condition is based on observed behaviors. In the diagnostic manual used to classify disabilities, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th edition, (or DSM-IV), “Autistic Disorder” is listed as a category under the heading of “Pervasive Developmental Disorders.” A diagnosis of Autistic Disorder is made when an individual displays 6 or more of 12 symptoms listed across three major areas: social interaction, communication, and behavior. A child must display at least two impairments in social interaction, with at least one each in communication and in restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Each of the ASDs (including autism, PDD-NOS, and Asperger’s Syndrome) has its own diagnostic criteria.
