The Changing Faces of Autism: Parents’ Guide To The New Criteria Changes And Misdiagosis

Autism is a lifelong, pervasive disorder. Some other disorders are not. Autism is often misdiagnosed and once diagnosed can lead parents and professionals down incorrect paths toward remediation of behaviors. This makes it critical to have an accurate diagnosis for each child. This guide seeks both to demystify some of the proposed changes to the DSM's definition of autism and to introduce parents to other conditions that mimic or often get misdiagnosed as autism. With the tools in this guide, parents can become informed and equipped to explore all avenues with their physicians and local professionals in education.