THERAPIES AND TREATMENTS
THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DIAGNOSIS of Autism Spectrum Disorder By Zachary Ginder, PsyD, MSW
J.D. AND HIS PARENTS ARRIVED AT THEIR NEW PEDIATRICIAN’S OFFICE FOR THEIR FIRST VISIT SINCE MOVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY THREE YEARS AGO. THEY HAVE STRUGGLED TO FIND RESOURCES SINCE MOVING AND HAVEN’T BEEN CONNECTED WITH HEALTHCARE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THEY DECIDED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PEDIATRICIAN AFTER NOTICING J.D.’S SPEECH AND COMMUNICATION ABILITIES WERE NOT AT THE SAME LEVEL AS OTHER CHILDREN HE HAD BEEN PLAYING WITH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
H
is behavior had also become more noticeable since the pandemic. J.D. was their first child, and although very attentive and caring, their knowledge of child developmental milestones was admittedly lacking. During the pediatrician visit, a developmental screening tool was used to identify possible areas of developmental concern. After the visit, a referral for a specialized comprehensive evaluation was placed to help J.D., and his parents receive
the answers and assistance they need to support him in thriving as he transitions into school-based learning the following year. While the above scenario is fictional, it describes an alltoo-common situation that does not always end with such optimal outcomes. According to the Centers for Disease Control—Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM), diagnostic rates for autism spectrum
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