And given that the social aspects of autism may not be obvious before a child starts school, parents may not realize that their child has trouble socializing with others - and may not report it to the pediatrician. It takes special training, and it takes time, something the average busy pediatrician doesn’t have. It isn’t always easy for general pediatricians to diagnose autism in young children. So to have the diagnosis delayed by three years - and delayed past those crucial early years - is a real tragedy. Every year the diagnosis is delayed is a year a child isn’t getting help - which can have lifelong ramifications. While autism can be diagnosed as early as age 24 months, the median age for diagnosis is over 4 years. Why does this matter? While there is a lot we don’t know about autism, one thing we do know is that the earlier treatment starts, the better the child does in the long run. They found that those who got an ADHD diagnosis before they got an autism diagnosis were diagnosed with autism an average of 3 years later than those who got the autism diagnosis first - and were 30 times more likely to get the autism diagnosis when they were 6 years old or older. In a study just published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers looked at about 1,500 children between the ages of 2 and 17 who had a current diagnosis of autism (as reported by their parents). In fact, it can be hard to tell the difference between the two.īut telling the difference is very important. Children with either one can be very active and impulsive, and can have trouble focusing and interacting with other people. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.Īttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism can look a lot alike. Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed.

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