Evaluation and Treatment of Autism in the Setting of Language Delay in Early Childhood

The standardized guidelines developed for the diagnosis of autism actually involve two levels of screening for autism. Level one screening, which should be performed for all children seeing a doctor for well-child checkups during their first two years of life.  

The second level of screening should be performed if a child is identified in the first level of screening as developmentally delayed. It is common for children on the spectrum to have delayed speech development.

Listen as John Constantino, MD, Washington University pediatric psychiatrist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, discusses how timely detection and early intervention may mitigate the emotional, social and cognitive deficits of this disability and improve the outcome.