Preparing for an Autism Diagnosis Appointment

There is nothing easy about wondering if your child is on the Autism Spectrum. Since Autism is a medical diagnosis, your family doctor is the place to start. Then a referral can be made to a paediatrician. The blog "Autism Medicine Hat" lists the names of local paediatricians here.

Documenting difficult behaviours prepares you for describing the problems your child is facing.
For each difficult behaviour ask yourself:
  1. What seems to trigger the behaviour?
  2. How long does it last?
  3. How often does is happen?
Since tests for Autism are observational, be prepared for multiple appointments and possible referrals to other specialists. Receiving a diagnosis is more of a journey rather than an event.

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