Does My Child Have Autism?

child with autism symptoms playing alone

One of the most common inquiries I address in my practice is whether a child is on the Autism Spectrum. Some parents were informed of the potential or confirmed diagnosis of Autism in their child, but they continue to express questions and concerns. Other parents were informed their child did NOT have Autism, but they too continue to wonder as their child demonstrates the signs and symptoms. There have also been cases where a diagnosis of Autism has been given, but the specifics of how to address it remain overwhelming, and even confusing, with much conflicting information in regards to diagnosis and treatment. 

Regardless, the parent recognizes that their child is struggling and is worried about the child’s development as they get older. The parent may notice that their child is not making friends, or they seem unhappy or frustrated in not being able to adjust to others around them. The child’s school performance may be suffering, and all of this is having a dramatic impact on the family, creating additional layers of concern and stress.

professional assessing a child for autism

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. 

It is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. 

Sometimes the individual misreads facial cues. They may not understand humor or fail to appreciate that others are making fun of them. They struggle to be self-reflective during social situations or to take others’ perspectives. 

At the core of Autism is rigidity and difficulty being flexible in real time. Being able to pivot and adjust in social situations is very hard, and the same is true when dealing with instances where things feel unpredictable, unexpected or uncomfortable. 

Common Signs of Autism in Children

Autism is one of the more challenging diagnoses for clinicians in all fields, including among my own psychologist colleagues, including pediatricians, teachers and psychiatrists! 

This leads to confusion and bad feelings on the part of the parent because, without a diagnosis, they know their child is struggling but don’t know what to do or who to seek advice from. 

Autism can be hard to spot as the symptoms can often be deceptive. Their child may tend to present as mature, articulate and an avid ‘rules-followers’, so many adults dismiss the possibility of Autism. 

autism signs and symptoms

Even though autism is challenging to diagnose, there are core symptoms that we rely on for the purpose of diagnosis!  Below are three elements that can provide a starting point for parents and teachers who are wondering whether their child has autism:

  1. Social struggles: Problems meaningfully connecting with same-age friendships; that is making them, keeping them or both. They often do great with younger kids, older kids and animals. With kids their age, in ‘real-time,’ they they lack the ability to take others’ perspective, ‘read the room’ or compromise. 

  2. Rigidity/Inflexibility: Life can be unexpected and things can change on a dime. We must be flexible and adaptable in moments like these. Children with autism, on the other hand, struggle with these very skills. They have trouble transitioning from one task to another and don’t do well when life comes at them in ways that they were not anticipating or make them feel uneasy. They need things to be ‘just so.’ When this happens, children with autism can become frustrated, angry, and in some cases, volatile. 

  3. Anxiety: Because it can be so hard to connect with same-age peers and because, again, they need the world needs to be ‘just so,’ autistic individuals tend to experience a great deal of anxiety. The world feels uncontrollable and this creates emotional upheaval. Frequently autistic individuals become sad, down on themselves. They often deal with high levels of social anxiety, begin to self-isolate  and become at increased risk for depression. 

autism solutions near me

Steps for Autism Diagnosis

That is where I come in.

I’m here to give you answers, explanations, and effective solutions. I’m here to tell you that there are ways to thoroughly assess and diagnose cases of Autism. Assessments and testing are an effective first step to helping your child to not only understand what they are going through but also help to combat any disruptive behaviors that your child may be experiencing. Receiving a positive diagnosis for Autism can be daunting, especially for the parent as they continue to ask questions on how to effectively help their child and broaden their knowledge and understanding of Autism.

To book a testing appointment or to speak further about my services, please feel free to contact me at 973-908-4860 or you can fill out our contact form here. Additional information on our services can be found at www.drkoffman.com.

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