What Is Autism?
7. Investigations
The tools used to diagnose autism can be complicated and require considerable experience and understanding. Diagnosis is based on the behavior of the child based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
Two commonly used diagnostic instruments are the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale can also be used to assess the severity of autism. For tests, an electroencephalography can be useful to rule out seizures. Other potentially beneficial tests are polysomnography, genetic testing, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, a computed tomography (CT) scan, diffusion tensor imaging, and a positron emission tomography (PET) scan.
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