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- John W. Harrington, MD*
- Korrie Allen, PsyD†
- *General Academic Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA.
- †Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA.
Author Disclosure
Drs Harrington and Allen have disclosed no financial relationships relevant to this article. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device.
- AAP:
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- ABA:
- applied behavioral analysis
- ADHD:
- attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- ASD:
- autism spectrum disorder
- CAM:
- complementary and alternative medicine
- DSM-IV:
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition
- DSM-5:
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition
- M-CHAT:
- Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers
Educational Gaps
Because 1% to 2% of children will be diagnosed as having an autism spectrum disorder, pediatricians need adequate training in screening and diagnosis, particularly with the changes presented in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Initiating interventions for autism, both evidence-based and complementary, also requires the pediatrician to be familiar with available treatments.
Children with autism are likely to have a co-occurring mental health disorder that pediatricians should be able to recognize so that they can initiate treatment or provide timely referral.
Children with autism are less likely to have a medical home when compared with other children with special health care needs.
Objectives
After completing this article, readers should be able to:
Describe the signs and symptoms of an autism spectrum disorder and therefore be aware of the changes recently made to the DSM-5.
Be aware of appropriate screening devices for autism and how to use them effectively.
Consider a differential diagnosis and initiate an evaluation, as well as provide evidenced-based advice to a patient with newly diagnosed autism.
Recognize and provide screening devices for co-occurring mental health disorders in children with autism.
Become familiar with common complementary and alternative medicines and therapies.
Provide a more comprehensive medical home for children and families with autism.
Introduction
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes a continuum of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social communication and interactions, along with restrictive, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, and activities. (For this article, ASD and autism are used interchangeably.) Pediatric clinicians can significantly affect the outcome of children with ASD by making an early diagnosis and providing referral for evidenced-based behavioral treatment. By …
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