What happens during an autism spectrum disorder screening?
There is no special test for ASD. Screening usually includes:
A questionnaire for parents that asks for information about their child's development and behavior.
Observation. Your child's provider will look at how your child plays and interacts with others.
Tests that ask your child to perform tasks that check their thinking skills and ability to make decisions.
Sometimes a physical problem can cause autism-like symptoms. So screening may also include:
Blood tests to check for lead poisoning and other disorders
Hearing tests. A hearing problem can cause problems in language skills and social interaction.
Genetic tests. These tests look for inherited disorders such as Fragile X syndrome. Fragile X causes intellectual disabilities and symptoms similar to ASD. It most often affects boys.
