{"id":6547,"date":"2022-01-28T19:50:27","date_gmt":"2022-01-28T11:50:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scc.sg\/e\/?page_id=6547"},"modified":"2022-03-18T12:19:00","modified_gmt":"2022-03-18T04:19:00","slug":"autism-spectrum-disorder-asd","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/scc.sg\/e\/autism-spectrum-disorder-asd\/","title":{"rendered":"Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"#asd1\">What is ASD?<\/a><\/strong> | <a href=\"#asd2\"><strong>Signs &#038; Symptoms<\/strong><\/a> | <strong><a href=\"#asd3\">Diagnosis<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>| <strong><a href=\"#asd4\">Severity Levels<\/a><\/strong> | <strong><a href=\"#asd5\">Treatment<\/a><\/strong> | <strong><a href=\"#asd6\">FAQ<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<div   class='hr hr-short hr-center   avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_image '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div  class='avia-image-container  av-styling-    avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_heading  avia-align-center '  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"  ><div class='avia-image-container-inner'><div class='avia-image-overlay-wrap'><img class='avia_image' src='https:\/\/scc.sg\/e\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/ASD_Child-1500x630.jpg' alt='' title='ASD_Child' height=\"630\" width=\"1500\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div  id=\"asd1\"  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_image  el_before_av_textblock  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?<\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a broad term used to describe a group of neurodevelopmental disorders. Characteristics of these disorders include problems with communication and social interaction [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.autismspeaks.org\/what-autism\">1<\/a>]. People with ASD often demonstrate restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped interests or patterns of behaviour.<\/p>\n<p>Typically, autism symptoms start to display themselves in early childhood, between 12 and 24 months of age. Early on, symptoms may include a marked delay in language or social development.<\/p>\n<p>Autism arises more often in males than females. Additionally, mental health professionals estimate that 1 in 150 children have ASD in Singapore [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.imh.com.sg\/clinical\/page.aspx?id=250\">2<\/a>].<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<div  id=\"asd2\"  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Signs <span class='special_amp'>&amp;<\/span> Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder<\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) divides symptoms of autism into two categories: problems with communication and social interaction, and restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviour or activities [<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1176\/appi.books.9780890425596\">3<\/a>].<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<div  id=\"asd2\"  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Communication <span class='special_amp'>&amp;<\/span> Social Interaction<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Individuals with ASD may find themselves faced with difficulties when it comes to maintaining and developing relationships. This could be due to problems with communication and social interaction that include [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd\">4<\/a>]:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Struggling with communication, including difficulties sharing emotions and interests, or maintaining a back-and-forth conversation<\/li>\n<li>Issues with nonverbal communication, such as trouble maintaining eye contact or reading body language\n<ul>\n<li>It is common to see individuals with ASD being unsure of how to behave or avoiding social situations as they struggle to read and understand social cues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviour or activities<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviour or activities include [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd\">5<\/a>]:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Repetitive movements, motions, or speech patterns\n<ul>\n<li>Rigid adherence to specific routines or behaviours, making it difficult for them to cope with changes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>An increase or decrease in sensitivity to sensory information\n<ul>\n<li>For example, a negative reaction to certain sounds, fascination with visual lights or movements, or excessive touching of objects<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Over-fixation on specific subjects, activities, objects or interests\n<ul>\n<li>For example, a person with autism that is preoccupied with cars will obsessively read books, watch films and study cars to learn everything about the topic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div  id=\"asd3\"  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder<\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Diagnosing an individual with ASD can be difficult as there are no medical tests, like blood tests, to determine if one indeed suffers from ASD. Hence, doctors generally assess an individual\u2019s current behaviour and past developments to make a diagnosis [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ncbddd\/autism\/hcp-dsm.html\">6<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>According to the DSM-V, an individual has to meet the following criteria to be diagnosed with ASD:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-13  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Deficits in social communication <span class='special_amp'>&amp;<\/span> interaction<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><ul>\n<li>Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity\n<ul>\n<li>E.g. failure of normal back-and-forth conversation, reduced sharing of interests or emotion, failure to initiate or respond to social interactions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors\n<ul>\n<li>E.g. abnormal eye contact and body language, difficulty understanding and using gestures, lack of nonverbal communication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships\n<ul>\n<li>E.g. difficulties adjusting behavior to various social contexts, difficulties in making friends, absence of interest in peers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-15  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >At least 2 out of the 4 restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">E.g. Lining up toys or flipping objects, <a href=\"https:\/\/scc.sg\/e\/?page_id=6755\">echolalia<\/a>, idiosyncratic phrases<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualised patterns of verbal or nonverbal behaviour<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">E.g. Needing to take the same route or eat the same food every day and showing distress with changes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">E.g. Preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively\u00a0 perseverative interests<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hyper- or hypo reactivity to sensory input<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">E.g. Apparent indifference to pain\/temperature, excessively smelling or touching of objects, visual fascination with lights or movement<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities, or may be masked by learned strategies in later life).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These disturbances are not better explained by intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) or global developmental delay.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><\/div><\/section>\n\n<div  id=\"asd4\"  style='padding-bottom:5px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-18  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Severity Levels of Autism Spectrum Disorder<\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>The ways in which people with autism learn, think and problem-solve range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may be dependent on significant support in their day-to-day lives, while others may need less support and, for some, can live completely independently. The DSM-5 provides an overview of the severity level for ASD based on social communication impairment and restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.autismspeaks.org\/autism-diagnosis-criteria-dsm-5\">7<\/a>] [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ncbddd\/autism\/hcp-dsm.html\">8<\/a>].<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div class='avia-data-table-wrap avia_responsive_table'><table class='avia-table avia-data-table avia-table-1  avia-builder-el-20  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_heading  avia_pricing_default '  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Table\" ><tbody><tr class='avia-heading-row'><th class='avia-center-col'>Severity Level<\/th><th class=''>Social Communication<\/th><th class=''>Restricted, Repetitive Behaviours<\/th><\/tr><tr class=''><td class='avia-center-col'>Level 3<\/td><td class=''>Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills even with support in place<\/td><td class=''>Inflexibility of behavior or other restricted\/repetitive behaviors markedly interfere with functioning<\/td><\/tr><tr class=''><td class='avia-center-col'>Level 2<\/td><td class=''>Social impairments apparent even with support in place<\/td><td class=''>Inflexibility of behavior or other restricted\/repetitive behaviors appear frequently enough to interfere with functioning in a variety of contexts<\/td><\/tr><tr class=''><td class='avia-center-col'>Level 1<\/td><td class=''>Deficits in social communication  and interaction cause noticeable impairments without sufficient support\n\u00a0<\/td><td class=''>Inflexibility of behavior causes significant interference with functioning in one or more contexts<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><style type='text\/css'>.avia-table-1 td:nth-of-type(1):before { content: 'Severity Level'; } .avia-table-1 td:nth-of-type(2):before { content: 'Social Communication'; } .avia-table-1 td:nth-of-type(3):before { content: 'Restricted, Repetitive Behaviours'; } <\/style>\n\n<div  id=\"asd5\"  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-21  el_after_av_table  el_before_av_textblock  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder<\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, there is no cure for autism. However, therapy or other treatment options can alleviate and manage the symptoms of autism.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such therapy &#038; treatment options include: <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-23  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Behavioural Therapy<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Behavioural therapy aims to enforce desired behaviours and discourage undesired behaviours to improve an individual&#8217;s skills. Typically, it is based on Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.autismspeaks.org\/applied-behavior-analysis\">9<\/a>], a widely accepted and common treatment approach for people with ASD.<\/p>\n<p>Some common types of ABA used to treat ASD include [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ncbddd\/autism\/treatment.html\">10<\/a>]:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Discrete Trial Training (DTT)\n<ul>\n<li>A step-by-step process to teach individuals skills for them to reach a desired behaviour or response<\/li>\n<li>Concepts are broken down into smaller and simpler parts for easy understanding<\/li>\n<li>Positive reinforcement is often used to encourage desired behaviour<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI)\n<ul>\n<li>One-to-one interaction between an adult and child under the supervision of a trained professional<\/li>\n<li>A structured approach to build positive behaviours, teach skills and reduce unwanted behaviors in children below the age of 5 with ASD<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-25  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Speech Therapy<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Speech Therapy [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.homage.sg\/health\/speech-therapy-autism\/\">11<\/a>] helps to improve an individual\u2019s communication skills by learning verbal or non-verbal ways of communicating<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-27  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Nutritional Therapy<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>People with ASD might not get the food they need for their growth and development as they are selective of the food they eat depending on its taste and texture. Furthermore, research has found that individuals with ASD tend to have generally thinner bones than those without ASD [<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10803-007-0453-6\">12<\/a>]. As such, Nutritional Therapy [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nichd.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/autism\/conditioninfo\/treatments\/nutritional-therapy\">13<\/a>] ensures that those with ASD get the nutrients they need for their wellbeing<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-29  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Medication Treatment<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>There are medications that can help people with ASD function better by treating certain symptoms associated with ASD, especially certain behaviours. For instance, there are medications that can help to manage high energy levels, inability to concentrate, <a href=\"https:\/\/scc.sg\/e\/depression-what-causes-symptoms-treatment\/\">depression<\/a>, mood, seizures and <a href=\"https:\/\/scc.sg\/e\/?page_id=5711\">anxiety<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It is important to keep in mind not every medication is effective in managing symptoms of ASD and that every individual\u2019s response to medication is unique [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nichd.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/autism\/conditioninfo\/treatments\/medication-treatment\">14<\/a>].<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div  id=\"asd6\"  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h2    avia-builder-el-31  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_toggle_container  '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >FAQ<\/h2><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div  class=\"togglecontainer   toggle_close_all  avia-builder-el-32  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_hr \" >\n<section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-1\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-1-container\">1. What causes ASD?<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-1-container\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p>Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects someone from birth. However, research has yet to pinpoint its exact cause.<\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-2\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-2-container\">2. What are some examples of the disorders grouped under ASD?<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-2-container\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p>Autism, Asperger&#8217;s syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS) are some examples [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.imh.com.sg\/clinical\/page.aspx?id=250\">15<\/a>]. Previously, these symptoms were diagnosed separately. However, mental health professionals now tend to diagnose individuals with ASD to represent these disorders as they are highly similar.<\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-3\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-3-container\">3. I suspect that my child has autism. Who can I turn to for a diagnosis?<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-3-container\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p>You should approach a certified psychologist for any diagnosis of ASD. For diagnosis, psychologists will typically quiz you on details such as your child\u2019s medical history, development and potential symptoms indicative of ASD. Tests, such as the Autism Diagnostic Interview may be used [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.imh.com.sg\/uploadedFiles\/Homepage_Features\/ADIR%20Registration%20Form%20updated.pdf\">16<\/a>]. You should only use online evaluations as a general guide; for an official diagnosis, always approach a mental health professional.<\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-4\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-4-container\">4. What support is there for children with ASD in Singapore?<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-4-container\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p>Non-profit organisations like Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) aim to provide support for people with ASD and their families [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.autism.org.sg\/\">17<\/a>]. Special education (SPED) schools that teach specialised curriculums include Pathlight School [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pathlight.org.sg\/\">18<\/a>] and St Andrew\u2019s Autism School [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saac.org.sg\/st-andrews-autism-school\/\">19<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>You can also consider schemes like the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecda.gov.sg\/Parents\/Pages\/EIPIC-Programme.aspx\">20<\/a>], the Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concession for Persons with Disabilities and the Foreign Domestic Worker Grant [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msf.gov.sg\/media-room\/Pages\/Easing-applications-for-schemes-supporting-caregivers-of-persons-with-intellectual-disability-or-autism-spectrum-disorder.aspx\">21<\/a>] to ease the responsibility of raising a child with ASD.<\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div   class='hr hr-default   avia-builder-el-33  el_after_av_toggle_container  avia-builder-el-last '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6547","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - 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