“Please give an overview of autism diagnosis currently used in medical practice. What criteria and methods are used? How prevalent are autism diagnoses?

Autism is a clinical diagnosis. There is no one test to diagnose autism. Depending on the type of medical professional diagnosing, typically the DSM-V (standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the U.S.) is used to diagnose by primary care physicians, neurologists, and psychiatrists.

Additionally, a set of questions known as the ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised) and observations in a semi-structured assessment known as the ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) are typically used by developmental pediatricians.

The most recent numbers show the prevalence of autism at 1 in 68 people. It is higher in males at 1 in 42 while at 1 in 189 in females. Despite this relatively frequent condition, many physicians are uncomfortable diagnosing and managing the symptoms of autism.”

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