Clinical considerations in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders

The diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) is being made more frequently in children and at younger ages. This paper discusses various factors to be considered in the screening of autism, early features of presentation, relevant to assessment and diagnosis, subtypes or different syndromes ithin the spectrum of autistic conditions including Asperger syndrome, the differential diagnosis from learning and language disorders and the medical and behavioural commonly associated disorders.