Does My Child Have Autism?

The hallmark feature of Autism Spectrum Disorder is impaired social interaction.  As early as infancy, a baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. 

A child with Autism may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement. Therefore, it is recommended to have the Autism test carry out as soon as the child was suspected of having the disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder varies widely in severity and symptoms. It may be undetected especially in mildly affected children or when it is masked by more debilitating handicaps.  Very early indicators include:

• no babbling or pointing by age 1
• Poor eye contact
• No response to own name
• no single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by age 2
• excessive lining up of toys or objects
• no smiling or social responsiveness
• Poor feeding
• Excessive tantrum

Later indicators include:

• Difficulty in making friends with peers
• Stereotyped, repetitive, or unusual use of language
• Having difficulty in initiating or sustaining a conversation with others
• Absence or impairment of imaginative and social play
• Inflexible and has to adhere to specific routines/ rituals
• Restricted patterns of interest that are abnormal in intensity or focus
• Preoccupation with certain objects or subjects

Autism Test or Assessments

Health care providers will often use a questionnaire or other screening instrument to gather information about a child’s development and behavior.  Some screening instruments rely solely on parent observations, while others rely on a combination of parent and doctor observations. 

If screening instruments indicate the possibility of an Autism Spectrum Disorder, a more comprehensive evaluation is usually indicated.

A comprehensive evaluation requires a multidisciplinary team, including a developmental pediatrician, psychologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, Occupational therapist, and Speech therapist who diagnoses children with Autism. 

Hearing problems can also cause behavioral issues that could be mistaken for Autism Spectrum Disorder, children with delayed speech development should also have their hearing tested.

Followings are the commonly used diagnostic tests for Autism Spectrum Disorder:

• Diagnostic & Standard Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV / DSM V)
• Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS)
• Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS)
• Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R)

How can Therapy Alliance Singapore help?

If you observe symptoms as mentioned above for your child, do not hesitate to contact us for a no-obligation discussion on your child’s condition with our Therapist/Specialist before deciding to perform an Autism test or assessment for a complete analysis of your child.

Contact us via email on any inquiries, our Therapist/Specialist will offer their best advice on whether it is necessary to have the autism test to be carried out.

Contact Us Today For a Non Obligatory Discussion!