History and Future of Detection of ASD

-


History of Early Detection of ASD

Now, ASD represents a major public health challenge in the United State as the annual cost of caring for individuals with ASD has reached $137 billion. With the help of early detection and early behavioral intervention, individuals with ASD are able to lessen the intellectual impairment at an early stage, leading to better long-term outcomes and higher quality of life. Because of an increasing insight in developmental psychopathology field, detection and diagnostic process shifts from a very poor prognosis to a more accurate and advanced stage (Dawson & Bernier, 2013).

Before the 1980s, most of the early detection of autism relied on operant conditioning and many specialists believed that autism could not be recognized before children had developed language and symbolic play skills. However, now there has been clear evidence that can show changes in early behaviors in infants and children with ASD. A more integrated method of applied behavioral analysis implemented by both parents and clinicians is incorporated into the early identification and diagnose process. Also, the development in neurophysiological assessment, such as brain imaging and genetics offers families a better chance to detect autism and allow them to engage in behavioral intervention as soon as possible (Dawson & Bernier, 2013).

 

Future of Early Detection of ASD

There will be an increased application of neuroimaging and genetics in the early detection and diagnose of ASD. For example, both event-related potentials (ERPs) and electroencephalography(EEG), which maps out brain activities, can be used in early identification for signs of ASD in infants. Moreover, research shows that there is an abnormal brain growth trajectory in children with autism. Diffusion tensor imaging is able to show the presence of an atypical development of white matter pathways. These neuroimaging technologies are able to show a delayed development in toddlers and children, serving as effective biomarkers for autism.

Also, a deeper understanding in genetics has been developed over the past few decades. The number of identified risk genes has reached into the 100s, and this advancement in gene discovery will lead to the quantification of risk in the future. As a result, medical geneticists and genetic counselors are able to use genetic testing results to provide more information to families impacted by autism at a very early stage (Dawson & Bernier, 2013). Thus, families are able to begin interventions earlier before a full syndrome is present, which might even avert the diagnoses if done correctly.


Reference:

1) Dawson, G., & Bernier, R. (2013). A quarter century of progress on the early detection and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Development and Psychopathology, 25(4), 1455-1472.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Practical Guides of ASD Assessment and Health Care Services

-
Image
Clinical Evaluation Guide of Autism Though it is possible to diagnose children with ASD in the first 2 years of life, the diagnostic process can be quite complex, as the presentation of infants and toddlers vary from that of an older child with autism. Clinicians mostly look for symptoms of social and communicative dysfunction and they might find it challenging to assess the extent of a child’s social disability or delays. Many structured and semi-structured assessments, such as observational and parent report measures, can assist trained clinicians during diagnosis and offer informed insights (Steiner, Goldsmith, Snow & Chawarska, 2012). Many studies have shown that symptoms of social disability become more apparent, at least on the group level, around 12 months of age. At this age, behaviors that include responsivity to name, atypical object exploration and repetitive behaviors, and language and nonverbal communication are affected and display anomaly (Steiner, Goldsmith, Sno
Read more

Diagnostic Process of Autism

-
Image
Diagnostic Tools Parents or pedestrians are usually the first ones who might notice some difference in children's behaviors. As parents might notice some concerning signs on their children, they could schedule an autism screening or consultation with local clinicians. These screening are designed to detect signs of children at risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Since they are not very comprehensive, they are usually quite straightforward and quick. It is important to notice that screening is different from diagnosis. Currently, there is no specific diagnostic “test” for autism spectrum disorders. The diagnosis is established through a comprehensive evaluation that includes lifetime and family history, review of medical and educational records, behavioral observation, physical examination, administration of standardized instruments, which are carried out by specialists (Blenner, Reddy & Augustyn, 2011). One of the common standardized test used is called the American Psychiatr
Read more

What Is Autism?

-
Image
Introduction This semester I interned in a research lab at Vanderbilt University. The lab studies language growth in young children with disabilities and explore effective intervention strategies that can be used by both parents and teachers. During the informational interview I conducted with several staff members, I learned a lot about the assessment and diagnosis of young children with autism. Tatiana, one of the staff members in the lab, told me that some of the common characteristics of research participants, such as repetitive behaviors, and delays in verbal and social communications. She also pointed out that autism affects across all populations as she leads a grant that focuses on the effectiveness of intervention strategies for Hispanic children. Suzanne also pointed out that the current assessment and diagnostic tools, such as ADOS, have been proven quite useful. However, it is also difficult to officially diagnose children with ASD when they are very young. Some other s
Read more