Skip to main content

Advertising Disclaimer »

Main menu

  • Journals
    • Pediatrics
    • Hospital Pediatrics
    • Pediatrics in Review
    • NeoReviews
    • AAP Grand Rounds
    • AAP News
  • Authors
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Author Guidelines
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Complete Issue PDF
    • Archive
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • Blog
  • Multimedia
    • Teaching Slides
    • Pediatrics On Call Podcast
  • CME/MOC
    • CME Quizzes
    • MOC Claiming
  • Subscribe
  • Alerts
  • Careers
  • Other Publications
    • American Academy of Pediatrics

User menu

  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
American Academy of Pediatrics

AAP Gateway

Advanced Search

AAP Logo

  • Log in
  • My Cart
  • Journals
    • Pediatrics
    • Hospital Pediatrics
    • Pediatrics in Review
    • NeoReviews
    • AAP Grand Rounds
    • AAP News
  • Authors
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Author Guidelines
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Complete Issue PDF
    • Archive
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • Blog
  • Multimedia
    • Teaching Slides
    • Pediatrics On Call Podcast
  • CME/MOC
    • CME Quizzes
    • MOC Claiming
  • Subscribe
  • Alerts
  • Careers
American Academy of Pediatrics
Article

The Clinician’s Guide to Autism

John W. Harrington and Korrie Allen
Pediatrics in Review February 2014, 35 (2) 62-78; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.35-2-62
Quiz
John W. Harrington
*General Academic Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Korrie Allen
†Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Supplemental
  • Info & Metrics
  • Comments
  • Quiz
Loading

This article has a correction. Please see:

  • Related Article - March 01, 2014

This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.

Download PDF
  1. John W. Harrington, MD*
  2. Korrie Allen, PsyD†
  1. *General Academic Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA.
  2. †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.

  • Abbreviations:
    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

    1. 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.

    2. 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.

    3. 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:

    1. Describe the signs and symptoms of an autism spectrum disorder and therefore be aware of the changes recently made to the DSM-5.

    2. Be aware of appropriate screening devices for autism and how to use them effectively.

    3. Consider a differential diagnosis and initiate an evaluation, as well as provide evidenced-based advice to a patient with newly diagnosed autism.

    4. Recognize and provide screening devices for co-occurring mental health disorders in children with autism.

    5. Become familiar with common complementary and alternative medicines and therapies.

    6. 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 …

    Individual Login

    Log in
    You will be redirected to aap.org to login or to create your account.

    Institutional Login

    via Institution

    You may be able to gain access using your login credentials for your institution. Contact your librarian or administrator if you do not have a username and password.

    Log in through your institution

    If your organization uses OpenAthens, you can log in using your OpenAthens username and password. To check if your institution is supported, please see this list. Contact your library for more details.

    Purchase access

    You may purchase access to this article. This will require you to create an account if you don't already have one.

    Offer Reprints

    PreviousNext
    Back to top

    Advertising Disclaimer »

    In this issue

    Pediatrics in Review: 35 (2)
    Pediatrics in Review
    Vol. 35, Issue 2
    1 Feb 2014
    • Table of Contents
    • Table of Contents (PDF)
    • About the Cover
    • Index by author
    • Complete Issue (PDF)
    View this article with LENS
    PreviousNext
    Email Article

    Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Academy of Pediatrics.

    NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

    Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
    The Clinician’s Guide to Autism
    (Your Name) has sent you a message from American Academy of Pediatrics
    (Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Academy of Pediatrics web site.
    CAPTCHA
    This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
    Request Permissions
    Article Alerts
    Log in
    You will be redirected to aap.org to login or to create your account.
    Or Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
    Citation Tools
    The Clinician’s Guide to Autism
    John W. Harrington, Korrie Allen
    Pediatrics in Review Feb 2014, 35 (2) 62-78; DOI: 10.1542/pir.35-2-62

    Citation Manager Formats

    • BibTeX
    • Bookends
    • EasyBib
    • EndNote (tagged)
    • EndNote 8 (xml)
    • Medlars
    • Mendeley
    • Papers
    • RefWorks Tagged
    • Ref Manager
    • RIS
    • Zotero
    Quiz
    Share
    The Clinician’s Guide to Autism
    John W. Harrington, Korrie Allen
    Pediatrics in Review Feb 2014, 35 (2) 62-78; DOI: 10.1542/pir.35-2-62
    del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
    Print
    Download PDF
    Insight Alerts
    • Table of Contents

    Jump to section

    • Article
      • Educational Gaps
      • Objectives
      • Introduction
      • Epidemiology
      • ASD Symptoms and Signs
      • Understanding the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes
      • ASD Possible Causes and Vaccine Concerns
      • Screening
      • Evidence-Based Treatments
      • CAM Therapies for Autism
      • Medical Home
      • Conclusion
      • References
      • Suggested Readings
    • Figures & Data
    • Supplemental
    • Info & Metrics
    • Comments
    • Quiz

    Related Articles

    • The Clinician's Guide to Autism: Correction
    • Addendum for Clinician’s Guide to Autism
    • PubMed
    • Google Scholar

    Cited By...

    • Maternal and Child Health Bureaus Autism Research Program
    • Google Scholar

    More in this TOC Section

    • Preparing Children for International Travel
    • Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Childhood and Adolescence
    • Ear Abnormalities
    Show more Article

    Similar Articles

    Subjects

    • Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics
      • Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics
      • Autism/ASD
    • Medical Education
      • Journal CME
    • Administration/Practice Management
      • Medical Technology and Advancement
      • Administration/Practice Management
    • Journal Info
    • Editorial Board
    • ABP Content Specifications Map
    • Overview
    • Licensing Information
    • Authors
    • Author Guidelines
    • Submit My Manuscript
    • Librarians
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Usage Stats
    • Support
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
    • Resources
    • Media Kit
    • About
    • International Access
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Statement
    • FAQ
    • AAP.org
    • shopAAP
    • Follow American Academy of Pediatrics on Instagram
    • Visit American Academy of Pediatrics on Facebook
    • Follow American Academy of Pediatrics on Twitter
    • Follow American Academy of Pediatrics on Youtube
    American Academy of Pediatrics

    © 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics