Identification and evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorders.

Autism spectrum disorders are not rare; many primary care pediatricians care for several children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatricians play an important role in early recognition of autism spectrum disorders, because they usually are the first point of contact for parents. Parents are now much more aware of the early signs of autism spectrum disorders because of frequent coverage in the media; if their child demonstrates any of the published signs, they will most likely raise their concerns to their child's pediatrician. It is important that pediatricians be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorders and have a strategy for assessing them systematically. Pediatricians also must be aware of local resources that can assist in making a definitive diagnosis of, and in managing, autism spectrum disorders. The pediatrician must be familiar with developmental, educational, and community resources as well as medical subspecialty clinics. This clinical report is 1 of 2 documents that replace the original American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement and technical report published in 2001. This report addresses background information, including definition, history, epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, early signs, neuropathologic aspects, and etiologic possibilities in autism spectrum disorders. In addition, this report provides an algorithm to help the pediatrician develop a strategy for early identification of children with autism spectrum disorders. The accompanying clinical report addresses the management of children with autism spectrum disorders and follows this report on page 1162 [available at www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/120/5/1162]. Both clinical reports are complemented by the toolkit titled "Autism: Caring for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Resource Toolkit for Clinicians," which contains screening and surveillance tools, practical forms, tables, and parent handouts to assist the pediatrician in the identification, evaluation, and management of autism spectrum disorders in children.

Management of children with autism spectrum disorders.

Pediatricians have an important role not only in early recognition and evaluation of autism spectrum disorders but also in chronic management of these disorders. The primary goals of treatment are to maximize the child's ultimate functional independence and quality of life by minimizing the core autism spectrum disorder features, facilitating development and learning, promoting socialization, reducing maladaptive behaviors, and educating and supporting families. To assist pediatricians in educating families and guiding them toward empirically supported interventions for their children, this report reviews the educational strategies and associated therapies that are the primary treatments for children with autism spectrum disorders. Optimization of health care is likely to have a positive effect on habilitative progress, functional outcome, and quality of life; therefore, important issues, such as management of associated medical problems, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic intervention for challenging behaviors or coexisting mental health conditions, and use of complementary and alternative medical treatments, are also addressed.

Helping families raise children with special health care needs at home.

One goal of Healthy People 2010 is to reduce the number of people with disabilities in congregate care facilities, consistent with permanency-planning principles, to 0 by 2010 for persons aged 21 years and under (objective 6-7). Congregate care, in this regard, is defined as any setting in which 4 or more persons with disabilities reside, regardless of whether the residence is located in the community, such as a school, group home, nursing facility, or institution. Although this particular public health objective may reflect an unfamiliar concept for some pediatricians, the American Academy of Pediatrics supports the goals and objectives of Healthy People 2010 as well as the medical home and the provision of community-based, culturally effective, coordinated, and comprehensive care for children with special health care needs and their families. To advise families caring for children with special health care needs effectively, the pediatrician should be familiar with the principles of permanency planning and well informed of local family-support services. The pediatrician should also work with the family to identify the range of long-term supports and services available for their child. These supports may include respite for biological families as well as various additional parenting models such as shared parenting, foster care, alternate parents, and adoption. Although family-based supports are preferable, families may consider other out-of-home placements including group homes, placement in a nursing facility, or other forms of institutional care when sufficient family-based services are not available. Once all the options are understood, issues regarding quality of care can be individualized and judged by the parent or guardian, in close collaboration with the pediatrician and other professionals with expertise in permanency planning and long-term supports and services. The purpose of this clinical report is to educate physicians on the philosophy of providing a permanent family environment (permanency planning) for all children, including those with special health care needs, and the importance of adequate and accessible community services to support and maintain the well-being of all family members.