DIAGNOSING AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS: A LIFESPAN PERSPECTIVE

By Y. HAMAY

CONTENTS 1 A BRIEF LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF AUTISM 2 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AUTISM REFERRAL 3 HOW TO CONDUCT THE EVALUATION 4 INFORMATION TO GATHER AT THE OUTSET OF THE EVALUATION 5 DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR THE AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 6 THE MAIN PROBLEM AREAS OF AUTISM: SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT 7 THE MAIN PROBLEM AREAS OF AUTISM: LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT 8 THE MAIN PROBLEM AREAS OF AUTISM: BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS 9 ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED WHEN INTERVIEWING TEENS 10 ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED WHEN INTERVIEWING ADULTS 11 OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION CONTENTS 12 DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS THROUGH THE LIFESPAN 13 FEEDBACK FOR THE PATIENT AND FAMILY/PARENTS