Diagnosing Autism

Diagnostic requirements vary based on the insurance company and plan which will be covering services.

BCBS/BCN

  • If you have BCBS/BCN Michigan and your insurance covers Applied Behavior Analysis services, you must obtain a diagnosis from an Approved Autism Evaluation Center (AAEC). Information on AAECs can be found here.
  • If you are in SW Michigan and need an AAEC diagnosis, please visit the WMed Autism Evaluation Center

Other Private Insurance

  • If you have private insurance other than BCBS-M, you should contact your insurance company regarding what type of diagnosis you will need to obtain prior to accessing services. Often (though not always), your diagnostic will need to be conducted by a Licensed Psychologist

Medicaid

  • If you have Michigan Medicaid, the Community Mental Health Access Center in your county must do all diagnostic testing. Please call the Access Center listed below for your county to begin the process.

Surrounding Counties CMH Access Centers

  • Kalamazoo County: 269-373-6000
  • Allegan County: 888-354-0596
  • Barry County: 269-948-8041
  • Berrien County: 269-927-6065
  • Benton Harbor: 269-925-0585 OR 800-336-0341
  • Niles: 269-684-4270 OR 888-686-3670
  • Branch County: 517-278-2129
  • Calhoun County: 800-783-5449
  • Cass County: 269-445-2451
  • Clinton County: 888-800-1559
  • Eaton County: 888-800-1559
  • Ionia County: 616-527-1790
  • Ingham County: 888-800-1559
  • Kent County: 800-749-7720
  • Ottawa County: 877-588-4357
  • St. Joe County: 269-467-1000
  • Van Buren County: 800-922-1418

About Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of conditions in which the growth and development of the brain is affected. This can impact an individual’s language, emotions, behavior, self-control, learning and memory. Delays or deficits usually show up early in a child’s development, many times before the child enters elementary school, and can continue throughout the individual’s lifetime. They can be limited in nature, for instance affecting speech or learning only, or the deficits can be global and affect intelligence, learning, communication, social skills, behavior and daily functioning together. Examples of neurodevelopmental disorders include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), communication disorders, intellectual developmental disorder, motor disorders and specific learning disorders. It is not unusual for these disorders to occur together.

Talk to your child’s health care provider about any questions or concerns you have regarding your child’s development. The provider will help you to decide if further evaluation is needed and if so, where to go for these services.

About Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. Symptoms are present early in development, often noticed within the first two years of life, and impact the individual’s social, occupational and/or other important areas of daily life. Scientists do not know the exact causes of ASD, but research suggests that both genes and environment play important roles.

Prior to 2013, Autism fell under the classification of pervasive developmental disorder and was divided into five sub-categories: Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Rett’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. With the most recent update of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the disorder was reclassified into a single diagnostic category of “Autism Spectrum Disorder.” This change was made based upon years of clinical practice and research and reflects the wide range of skills and symptoms demonstrated by individuals with autism.

Individuals diagnosed with ASD often have problems with social, emotional and communication skills. They might repeat certain behaviors and might not want change in their daily activities. Many people with ASD also have different ways of learning, paying attention or reacting to things. Children and adults with ASD might:

  • Not point at objects to show interest (for example, not point at an airplane flying over).
  • Not look at objects when another person points at them.
  • Have trouble relating to others or not have an interest in other people at all.
  • Avoid eye contact and want to be alone.
  • Have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings.
  • Prefer not to be held or cuddled, or might cuddle only when they want to.
  • Appear to be unaware when people talk to them, but respond to other sounds.
  • Be very interested in people, but not know how to talk, play or relate to them.
  • Repeat or echo words or phrases said to them, or repeat words or phrases in place of normal language.
  • Have trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions.
  • Not play pretend games (for example, not pretend to feed a doll).
  • Repeat actions over and over again.
  • Have trouble adapting when a routine changes.
  • Have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel or sound.
  • Lose skills they once had (for example, stop saying words they were using).
  • Have difficulty understanding subtleties in social communication, such as figurative speech or different types of humor, such as sarcasm.
  • Have difficulty with perspective taking.

It is important to keep in mind that symptoms of ASD can present very differently across individuals. Two children diagnosed with ASD may not show the exact same behaviors and s

The CDC has developed a wonderful resource that provides families with information about developmental milestones and ways to track progress toward these milestones. This information can be helpful when families begin discussion with their pediatricians or other healthcare providers regarding the signs and symptoms they are observing at home. This resource can be accessed here.

Learn the early signs

The following signs may indicate your child is at risk for an autism spectrum disorder.

  • No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or after.
  • No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expressions by nine months.
  • No babbling by 12 months.
  • No back-and-forth gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months.
  • No words by 16 months.
  • No meaningful, two-word phrases (not including echoing or repeating the speech of other people) by 24 months.
  • Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age.

If your child exhibits any of these signs, do not delay in talking to your child’s health care provider. Your child’s doctor will help you to decide if further evaluation is needed and if so, where to go for these services. Early identification and intervention are key

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Autism Program

The Michigan Autism Program provides support to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, their families and caregivers, and professionals providing treatment services. The Autism Program provides information about the Medicaid and MIChild Autism Benefit, Michigan Autism Spectrum Disorders State Plan, Autism Council and Autism services provided throughout Michigan. For more information about autism insurance reform and the Michigan Autism Program, visit the Michigan Autism Program website.

Autism Alliance of Michigan

The Autism Alliance of Michigan is a non-profit organization that offers coordinated advocacy service, education about autism, autism insurance reform and other related topics, community support and comprehensive service navigation across the state of Michigan. Visit the Autism Alliance of Michigan website.

Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is a national autism advocacy organization that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities for families, the public and government. Visit the Autism Speaks website.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

For information about signs and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder, screening and diagnosis, treatment and related topics, visit the CDC’s Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) website.

A Parent’s Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder

This parent’s guide is an online publication through the National Institute of Mental Health, available on the NIH website.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2012, October). Autism: caring for children with autism spectrum disorders: A resource toolkit for clinicians. Retrieved from http://www.aap.org/autism.

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Autism Speaks. (2015). Learn the signs of autism. Retrieved from https://www.autismspeaks.org/what….

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015, August). Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/….

National Institute for Mental Health. (n.d.) Autism spectrum disorder. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/to….