One in every 500 American children has an autistic disorder. But many are not correctly diagnosed until four years of age or older. Early intervention, however, can make all the difference in the world for these youngsters. To help remedy the situation, she and 24 other experts from medical schools nationwide wrote guidelines to assist doctors in diagnosing the condition. Their recommendations will be published in the journal Neurology this summer.
Parents also play an important role in the diagnosis of autism.
If your child engages in obsessive repetitive motions or seems disinterested in communicating with others, be sure to tell your physician.