What is a diagnosis along Autism Spectrum based on?
A medical diagnosis of Autism is based on both family and service providers’ observations and reports of specific characteristic behavioral symptoms, which relate to specific combinations of pervasive developmental delays, disorders, or even disabilities in communication, social, and functional skills. Once believed to be caused by early caretakers’ psychological problems, these behavioral symptoms are now understood to be indicative of serious underlying biologic problems in the central nervous system that can CAUSE gaps and glitches in our parent/child experiences. Autism, may often be accompanied by other related sensory, motor, and cognitive problems caused by similar biological conditions. Only a comprehensive psychiatric examination, by very experienced and licensed medical mental health clinicians, using standardized criteria, can be used to accurately diagnose an Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is how Autism is identified. Public education evaluations/eligibility identifications
