The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends screening children for autism during regularly scheduled well child visits. This policy helps health professionals identify signs of autism early in its course. Early diagnosis and treatment can help the child reach his or her full potential.

When a developmental delay is recognized in a child, further testing can help a health professional determine whether the problem is related to autism, another pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), or a condition with similar symptoms, such as language delays or avoidant personality disorder. If your primary care provider does not have specific training or experience in developmental problems, he or she may refer your child to a specialist-usually a developmental pediatrician, psychiatrist, speech therapist, or child psychiatrist- for the additional testing.

• Behavioral assessments. Various guidelines and questionnaires are used to help a health professional determine the specific type of developmental delay a child has. These include:²
  • Medical history. During the medical history interview, a health professional asks general questions about a child's development, such as whether a child shows parents things by pointing to objects. Young children with autism often point to items they want, but do not point to show parents an item and then check to see if parents are looking at the item being pointed out.
  • Diagnostic guidelines for autism. These guidelines are the main assessment criteria for autism and were established by the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). They are designed for children age 3 and older.
  • Other behavioral questionnaires. Additional diagnostic tests focus on children younger than age 3.
  • Clinical observations. A health professional may want to observe the developmentally delayed child in different situations. The parents may be asked to interpret whether certain behaviors are usual for the child in those circumstances.
  • Developmental and intelligence tests. The AACAP also recommends that tests be given to evaluate whether a child's developmental delays affect his or her ability to think and make decisions.

• Physical assessments and laboratory tests. Other tests may be used to determine whether a physical problem may be causing symptoms. These tests include:
  • Physical examination, including head circumference, weight, and height measurements, to determine whether the child has a normal growth pattern.
  • Hearing tests, to determine whether hearing problems may be causing developmental delays, especially those related to social skills and language use.
  • Testing for lead poisoning, especially if a condition called pica (in which a person craves substances that are not food, such as dirt or flecks of old paint) is present. Children with developmental delays usually continue putting items in their mouth after this stage has passed in normally developing children. This practice can result in lead poisoning, which should be identified and treated as soon as possible.