From Intake to Insight

Assessment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become increasingly complex, particularly as more individuals seek diagnosis in adolescence or adulthood after evading identification in childhood. However, the greater definition of autism has also allowed many to co-opt autism, redirecting its focus and muddying the picture. In this chapter, Dr. Sanam Hafeez draws on empirical literature, clinical experience, and the value of a structured assessment battery to outline the framework of diagnosing autism accurately. Differential diagnoses, including intellectual disability, giftedness, ADHD, anxiety, and social pragmatic communication disorder, are emphasized, as is the role of genetic and neurobiological factors. Grounded in theory and practice, Dr. Hafeez writes this chapter for the medical community at large and as a foundation for developing screening and widely accessible evaluation tools.