Early Diagnosis of Autism

CDC Wants to Help Caregivers Act Early

Although autism can be diagnosed in children as young as 18 months old, many children are not diagnosed until they are 4, 5, or 6 years old. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants to change that.

The CDC wants to help parents and other caregivers learn to identify the signs of autism and take action early. The organization is reaching out to communities, filling doctors' offices around the country with checklists and posters.

A large section of the CDC Web site is devoted to autism and other developmental problems. It includes an inventory of the developmental milestones for children in the first five years (as well as signs of developmental delays), resources, and fact sheets that can be duplicated. All information is also available in Spanish. 

To learn more about autism, see National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities on the CDC Web site.

Related Links

»  Autism Speaks -- News, events, and advocacy for autism research.

» Autism Spectrum Disorders  -- Online booklet from the National Institute of Mental Health.

» Going Mainstream: Early Intervention and Inclusion Open Doors for Children with Autism . From NEA Today (February 2008).

» Therapies and Interventions for Children with Autism - Some popular educational therapies used by parents and educators of children with autism. From NEA Today (February 2008).

» Resources for Teachers About Autism - General information, methods, articles, and materials. From NEA Today (February 2008).