The Process of Making A Diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome

Just like any type of disease or problematic state, particularly when it involves a child, the primary need is to have a diagnosis made. With a diagnosis, the types of behaviors and symptoms involved are identified. A diagnosis would give hope that the condition could be improved. With a diagnosis, a reason for the situation can be given.

Just like with most diagnoses, the process of diagnosing Aspergers Syndrome could have some complications. At the moment, there isn’t a standard process for screening or testing it. When different doctors observe even the same child, they could come up with different diagnoses and these would depend on what tools they employed when making their diagnosis.

Majority of doctors search for a basic set of behaviors when they produce their diagnosis. This basic set involves:

• Atypical eye contact

• Being aloof with other people inside the room

• Not turning when they are called

• Not using gestures to point to objects or to indicate something

• No interactive play

• Non-interest in others’ feelings or actions

Some of the behaviors first happen even during the first months of life while some behaviors only exhibit themselves until the third year of age. To diagnose Asperger’s Syndrome, at least one of those characteristics must have been observed even before the third year of age.

In making AS diagnoses, a process comprising two stages is undergone. The first stage involves screenings like well-child checkups. The second stage involves extensive evaluations by psychologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, speech therapists along with other professionals required for diagnosing autism.

Producing the diagnosis is done by using the results for the tests and assessments along with the developmental history of the child coming from the parents. The present day symptoms the child shows are also considered.

Intelligent, well-spoken adults who might be inexperienced with social interactions are usually thought of as being afflicted with adult autism. A lot of adult individuals have been wrongly diagnosed with other disorders while they actually exhibit autism behavior instead. They are misdiagnosed or are undiagnosed due to many doctors being unaware of the symptoms or because they consider the sickness as just some eccentric behaviors.

 When an adult is suspected of suffering from AS, he must go to a medical professional like a neurologist, psychologist or psychiatrist. A group of doctors may be required to diagnose it. A group of assessments and tests must be employed to have a diagnosis and in order to make a history of developmental milestones and a history of behavior and communication.

These tests deal with intelligence, communication and social abilities, personal developmental histories along with other symptoms such as social phobias and anxiety.