Anautism test is a test used to clarify the diagnosis of autism scientifically after it has been clinically diagnosed.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosed by clinical symptoms. To explain, there is neither a test nor an examination method that can show us whether autism exists or not. In order to be diagnosed with autism, a child's developmental processes must be impaired from infancy. In other words, if our child does not respond to his/her name even though he/she is over a year old, avoids eye contact with other people, does not show interest in other children, does not understand and follow even your simple instructions, still does not speak, makes repetitive movements, we should think that he/she has autism symptoms and we should immediately see a child and adolescent psychiatry specialist. These symptoms are very important for the doctor to make a diagnosis. However, they are often not enough, so the doctor wants to examine and see the child's reactions and behaviors at the same time. He/she calls the child by name, wants to get his/her attention and ask him/her something. He/she evaluates his/her eye contact, pointing skills, whether he/she has joint attention, whether he/she perceives and fulfills simple instructions, and whether he/she has some other skills that should be developed for that age. During this observation and evaluation, the child's morphological characteristics are examined, including facial shape, ear structure, vision and hearing. They try to determine whether there are any other neurological findings. In the meantime, he/she receives detailed information from the parents about the child's entire development. After all these for the autism test, some tests, examinations and investigations may be requested if necessary.
Why should an autism test be performed?
In cases where autism is suspected, tests are performed to confirm the diagnosis, to measure the severity of symptoms, and to assess whether there are any other accompanying organic and neurological problems. This is because every child with autism is different from each other, with symptoms of varying variety and severity. Therefore, each child with autism may not look like the other. Their temperament is different, their intelligence is different, the family and culture they live in are different. For this reason, it is important to evaluate the child in more detail both to determine the treatments he/she will receive and to predict how the prognosis will go.
Which tests are used in the diagnosis of autism?
In children with suspected autism, a screening test called M-CHAT, an autism test, is used before the age of 6. This test is evaluated with both information from the family and observation of the child at the time. The test tells us whether the child is at risk of autism. The doctor finalizes the diagnosis based on his/her clinical observation, information from the family and the results of the M-CHAT autism test.
Apart from these, developmental tests such as the autism test AGTE and Denver are used to determine the developmental characteristics of the child with autism. This autism test, which is also used for autism, evaluates whether the child's language development, fine and gross motor skills, social and self-care skills are within normal limits.
Problem Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) are among the other scales that can be used for autism testing.
What is the Importance of Autism Testing in Autism Treatment?
In some children with autism, the risk of epilepsy, mental retardation, disorders in brain structure and a number of genetic and metabolic syndromes accompany the condition. For this reason, tests such as EEG, Brain MRI examination may be requested in addition to neurological examination. A physician who suspects a metabolic condition may order metabolic screening tests in urine and blood. These examinations are not performed to diagnose autism, but to detect other accompanying abnormalities and to offer additional treatments for them.
What is the autism genetic panel WES (Whole Exome Sequencing)?
