If you find any abnormal symptoms in your child which could indicate slow physical or mental growth, it is best to conduct a doctor immediately. Your doctor must screen your child for autism, PDD and other related disorders during your schedules visits. A structured procedure is used to determine if the child is suffering from any developmental disorder such as autism, Asperger’s syndrome or Rett’s syndrome. Autism cannot be detected by conventional means like brain scan or a blood test. If a development delay is present in your child, the doctor may refer you to a paediatrician, child psychiatrist, or a speech therapist for confirmation, further testing and suggesting proper treatment.
Behavioural assessments may be conducted using special questionnaires to determine the degree of autism. It includes questions about the child’s development, observing child’s behaviour in several situations, and specially designed intelligence tests. Physical assessments are conducted to determine whether the child has normal physical development. This includes hearing tests, physical exams to assess the child’s height, weight and head circumference. The child is also tested for lead poisoning, as children with developmental disorders put objects in their mouth which may contain lead.