Practice parameter: Screening and diagnosis of autism
Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society
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Abstract
Article abstract Autism is a common disorder of childhood, affecting 1 in 500 children. Yet, it often remains unrecognized and undiagnosed until or after late preschool age because appropriate tools for routine developmental screening and screening specifically for autism have not been available. Early identification of children with autism and intensive, early intervention during the toddler and preschool years improves outcome for most young children with autism. This practice parameter reviews the available empirical evidence and gives specific recommendations for the identification of children with autism. This approach requires a dual process: 1) routine developmental surveillance and screening specifically for autism to be performed on all children to first identify those at risk for any type of atypical development, and to identify those specifically at risk for autism; and 2) to diagnose and evaluate autism, to differentiate autism from other developmental disorders.
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- Article
- Abstract
- Description of the process.
- Level one: routine developmental surveillance and screening specifically for autism.
- Level one evidence-based recommendations.
- Level two: diagnosis and evaluation of autism.
- Level two: evidence-based recommendations.
- Consensus-based general principles of management.
- Disclaimer.
- Appendix 1
- Appendix 2
- Appendix 3
- Appendix 4
- Acknowledgments
- Footnotes
- References
- Figures & Data
- Info & Disclosures
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