A: Because diagnosis of autism is difficult, only a health care professional who specializes in the treatment of children with autism should perform a formal evaluation and diagnosis for autism. However, health care professionals who are not specialists can assist in getting a person with autism the help he or she needs.

Autism is a treatable condition. People with autism benefit from early intervention and show multiple outcomes to treatments. Health care professionals who are not autism specialists can provide the vital “first step” in the process of diagnosis—screening. By recognizing the symptoms of autism, you can refer children who exhibit these symptoms to the appropriate specialist(s) for further evaluation. By increasing your own knowledge of the common symptoms of autism, and sharing that information with your colleagues, your staff, the families in your care, and others in the community, you can help ensure that those who need help get it.

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