Previously, Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified were all classified as separate psychiatric disorders of early childhood. However, recent research suggests that the aforementioned diagnoses are all symptoms of one disorder of varying severity. The new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V) used by mental health professionals utilizes a continuum of symptom severity to capture each of these disorders under the singular diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with deficits in social communication and interaction (e.g., difficulty interpreting social cues and developing age appropriate friendships). In addition, individuals with ASD develop restricted repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities. As such, ASD individuals are highly sensitive to their environment, and may depend on and require structured and specific routines. A critical change to the DSM-V diagnostic criteria includes a requisite that individuals with ASD must exhibit symptoms of the disorder from early childhood, even if symptoms are not recognized until later in life.
Although the changes in ASD diagnostic criteria encourage early diagnosis, the severity of ASD symptoms vary, and many children and adults remain undiagnosed until they begin to have serious difficulties at school, work, or with their personal lives and relationships. Without an accurate assessment and diagnosis of an individual’s cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional strengths and deficits, ASD can be misdiagnosed and inappropriately treated. Specialized neuropsychological and cognitive assessments can identify an individual’s learning style and neurocognitive profile, which can be crucial for establishing optimal individualized educational interventions, and early intensive behavioral interventions that could dramatically improve long-term functioning for individuals with ASD. Although ASD captures a diverse group of individuals with variable functional abilities, the right assessment can also help identify the distinctive strengths of an individual with ASD.
