For now, the most reliable way to diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is by observing behaviours that don?t clearly emerge until around age two. These might include: repetitive hand flapping and rocking; poor eye contact or failure to engage with other kids; and sensitivities to bright lights or noisy environments. But the search is on to find an objective diagnostic method, based on biological clues.

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Early research shows promise for new autism drugMany practitioners currently use a screening questionnaire called M-CHAT, done at 16 to 30 months. There are 20 questions on the form, such as: Does your child walk" If you point at something across the room, does your child look at it" Does your child play pretend or make-believe" Parents can complete this questionnaire at home then bring it to their child?s practitioner to discuss whether further assessment is needed. One drawback of this method is that the symptoms of ASD can look different in each child, and since autism is a disorder on a spectrum, those symptoms may be subtle or pronounced. That means everything comes down to the subjective conclusions of the diagnostic specialist, usually a child psychologist or specially trained physician.
While a diagnosis is typically ma...