How is autism diagnosed and is there a medical test?
Peggy Halliday: There is no medical test for autism it is diagnosed solely by looking at a child’s behaviors. The diagnostic and statical manual is a manual that doctors use to characterize the symptoms of autism. There are 12 symptoms of autism across 3 areas: social interaction, communication, and behavior. In order for a child to receive a diagnosis of autism they have to have a total of six impairments. Two of them need to be in the area of social deficits, one each in the area of communication and behavior.
