Diagnosing autism isn't always easy
By Staff Writer
Autistic children who receive early interventions and go on to attend therapeutic boarding schools are often diagnosed at a relatively young age. While there is no age at which healthcare experts agree autism needs to be caught, most agree that an earlier diagnosis presents more opportunities for treatment. However, an early diagnosis is not always guaranteed.
Depending on their level of impairment, some children may be classified as autistic as toddlers, if not earlier, according to KTRK Houston.
The news channel reports that some physicians believe they have seen, though not necessarily definitively diagnosed, autism in infants or even newborns.
The widely accepted age at which autism is thought to be detectable is between years 2 and 3 in a child's development. It is likely autism may be diagnosed as early as 18 months, according to the centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The problem is that there is currently no one standard test for autism, the news source said. Because of this lack of diagnostic unity, physicians often recommend that parents simply be aware of the symptoms of autism, which include poor eye contact and repetitive motions or speech.
Teens who have autism have the option to attend therapeutic boarding schools, which provide long-term treatment for social and behavioral deficits.