Autism Services

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects behavior, communication and social functioning. According to the 2019 CHSCY, 1 in 50 (or 2.0%) Canadian children and youth aged 1 to 17 years were diagnosed with ASD. Psychologists can play an important role in diagnosing ASD and helping people cope with and manage the challenges associated with the disorder.

Understanding Autism

As the term “spectrum” suggests, ASD symptoms exist along a continuum. Some people with the disorder can succeed in traditional schools, hold jobs and perform functions of daily living with varying levels of support. Others have significant intellectual impairments and will need extensive support and assistance throughout their lives. While ASD is a diverse disorder, the condition is commonly characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication and certain repetitive/ restricted behaviours.

Some common signs and symptoms include:

• Failure to engage in typical babbling or pointing in infancy.
• Failure to make eye contact beginning in infancy.
• Failure to respond to one’s own name.
• Loss of previously acquired language or social skills, usually during the second year of life.
• Unusual responses to sensory input.
• Unusual movements such as rocking, twirling or flapping arms.
• Difficulty playing with or interacting with peers.
• Difficulty talking about feelings.
• Difficulty understanding tone of voice, body language and gestures.
• Obsessive interest in a particular topic.
• Difficulty breaking from the routine.

Diagnosing ASD

Although ASD can be diagnosed as early as 15 to 18 months of age, the average age of diagnosis is about 4.5 years, and some people are not diagnosed until adulthood. That’s unfortunate, as the prompt diagnosis is important for early intervention. Research has shown that intensive early intervention can significantly affect the outcomes for people with ASD. If you suspect your child shows signs of the disorder, don’t put off testing. ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is thought to have a strong genetic component. However, medical tests such as blood tests or brain scans cannot currently be used to diagnose ASD. Instead, healthcare providers diagnose the condition based on the patient’s history and behaviours. You can get a diagnosis of Autism for your child or youth from qualified professionals who have undergone specific training. Various experts, including psychologists, pediatricians and neurologists, can make this diagnosis. Psychologists are often involved in the diagnostic process. It is important that you select expert making the diagnosis has extensive experience working with the wide range of symptoms associated with ASD.

To make a diagnosis of ASD, psychologists draw on several sources of information:

• Client interviews.
• Observations of the patient’s behavior.
• Tests of cognitive and language abilities.
• Medical tests to rule out other conditions.
• Interviews with parents, teachers or other adults who can answer questions about the client’s
• social, emotional and behavioural development.

It’s important to note that autism is a spectrum disorder, and the severity of symptoms can vary widely from person to person. Early diagnosis and intervention can help manage the symptoms of ASD and improve outcomes.

Psychologist Role

ASD is a condition that lasts a lifetime. As patients grow, psychologists create new treatment plans to help patients and their families succeed at key transition points such as starting school, entering adolescence or moving into adulthood.

Psychologists can also help with specific challenges that arise for people with ASD and their families. Such services include:

• Treatments to help people with ASD manage anxiety or mood disorders such as depression. This often includes modified cognitive behavioural therapy, a method that helps individuals change negative thoughts and behaviours.
• Treatments to help manage sleeping and feeding problems that often coincide with ASD.
• Social skills groups to help people with ASD improve social cognition, conversational skills, nonverbal communication and play.
• Individual psychotherapy to help adults with autism improve marital and other family relationships and improve life skills necessary for employment.
• For people with more severe cognitive impairments, interventions to decrease aggression and self-injury and improve compliance.

The goal of psychotherapy may not be to cure ASD but to help people with ASD function at their best and cope with challenges.