Autism screenings

When your child doesn't point at interesting things like planes or cars, avoids eye contact, or doesn't want you to touch them, he or she might have autism. Your doctor or other health care professional can help find this as early as 18 months, which is important because the earlier autism is found, the more you can do to help your child overcome it.

We usually refer to "autism" as one condition, but really it is a group of developmental disabilities caused by a problem with the brain. This group of disabilities is known as "autism spectrum disorders," or ASDs. Children who have an ASD may be highly intelligent, but their ability to think and learn is very different and may make it hard for them to go to school, interact with other children, or "behave themselves" in publc.

What is an autism screening?
During your child's checkups at 18 and 24 months of age, your doctor will play and talk with your child and ask you questions to see if the child is reaching developmental milestones. If your doctor suspects that your child may have autism, your doctor will suggest that your child goes to a developmental pediatrician who is an expert in diagnosing autism. That expert will ask you questions about your child's behavior and observe how your child reacts to things like meeting strangers, strong smells, sudden movements, and more.

What can you do?

1. Look for developmental milestones in your child. (This link will take you to the Centers for Disease Control website.)
   
2. Talk to your doctor and ask if your child should be screened for autism.
3. Read about autism on the Centers for Disease Control website, like this Autism Spectrum Disorders Fact Sheet.
4. Check out resources about autism on our Developmental resources page on this website.