Can Autism Really Be Diagnosed in Minutes? [reblog & comments]

Can Autism Really Be Diagnosed in Minutes? | Healthland | TIME.com:

'via Blog this'

This Dr Wall and his brief diagnostic method using a video of the child plus some questions that carers can answer via web portal seem fantastic to me. Kids all over the country & around the world can be assessed at the earliest possible time and directed towards local therapeutic services. Having a false positive [classifying a child as autistic when they're not] is not going to HARM a young child because a skilled teacher or therapist will quickly spot their abilities and refer them on for further assessment or back to mainstream schooling.

To me, Dr Wall's method is a boon to public health- it will ultimately save health dollars by eliminating lengthy waiting periods where early intervention is life-changing. The bonus is also the fact that people in remote areas are not so disadvantaged because the assessment can use electronic media instead of face-to-face contact.

For the objectors: Sure, autism warrants a thorough and comprehensive assessment to plot the best educational & social path for the child. However, the details can wait while the principles for intervention with autistic kids are put in place, especially in teaching them attention to social cues, which allows them to learn as much as they can in language, play & academic subjects.

Three cheers for Dr Wall!