An autism test refers to tests used to scientifically confirm a diagnosis of autism after it has been clinically established.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosed based on clinical symptoms. To clarify, there is neither a test nor an examination method that can definitively determine whether autism is present. For a diagnosis of autism to be made, a child must exhibit developmental delays beginning in infancy. In other words, if your child has turned one year old but does not respond to his name, avoids making eye contact with others, shows no interest in other children, cannot understand or follow even simple instructions, still does not speak, or engages in repetitive movements, you should suspect signs of autism and consult a child and adolescent psychiatrist immediately. These signs are very important for the doctor to make a diagnosis. However, they are often not sufficient on their own; therefore, the doctor will also want to observe and assess the child’s responses and behaviors. The doctor will call the child by name and try to engage his attention by asking questions. The doctor evaluates eye contact, pointing ability, whether the child shares attention, the child’s ability to understand and follow simple instructions, and whether the child possesses certain other skills expected for his age. During this observation and evaluation, the doctor examines the child’s physical characteristics, such as facial structure, ear shape, vision, and hearing. The specialist tries to determine whether there are any other neurological findings. At the same time, he gathers detailed information from the parents regarding the child’s overall development. After all of this, if deemed necessary for the autism screening, the specialist may request certain tests, examinations, and evaluations.
Why Should an Autism Test Be Performed?
An autism assessment is conducted in cases where autism is suspected to confirm the diagnosis, measure the severity of symptoms, and evaluate whether there are any accompanying organic or neurological problems. This is because every child with autism is unique, and symptoms vary in type and severity. Therefore, no two children with autism may be alike. His temperament is different, his intelligence is different, and the family and culture in which he lives are different. For this reason, evaluating the child in greater detail is important both for determining the treatments he will receive and for predicting the prognosis.
What Tests Are Used in the Diagnosis of Autism?
For children suspected of having autism, a screening test called the M-CHAT is used before the age of 6. This test is evaluated based on information provided by the family as well as direct observation of the child at the time of the assessment. The test indicates whether the child is at risk for autism. The doctor confirms the diagnosis by considering his own clinical observations, information from the family, and the results of the M-CHAT test.
In addition to this, developmental tests such as the AGTE and the Denver Developmental Screening Test are used to determine the developmental characteristics of a child with autism. These tests assess whether the child’s language development, fine and gross motor skills, and social and self-care skills fall within normal ranges.
Other scales that can be used for autism testing include the Problem Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS).
What Is the Importance of the Autism Test in Autism Treatment?
In some children with autism, the condition is accompanied by a risk of epilepsy, intellectual disability, abnormalities in brain structure, and certain genetic and metabolic syndromes. For this reason, in addition to a neurological examination, tests such as an EEG and brain MRI may be requested. If a physician suspects a metabolic condition, he may order metabolic screening tests on urine and blood samples. These tests are not performed to diagnose autism, but rather to identify other accompanying abnormalities and provide additional treatments for them.
What Is the Autism Genetic Panel (WES—Whole Exome Sequencing)?
