People write to me and ask me this question. But I am not a medical expert. The only person who can diagnose autism is a doctor, likely a developmental pediatrician. However, there are resources online you can use to help you decide whether or not to consult your doctor. Here are some:
These were designed by the Autism Research Center at the University of Cambridge.
1. An online screening for toddlers via Healthism.
http://www.healthism.com/inventories/autism-symptom-screening
2. An online screening for primary school aged children.
http://www.healthism.com/inventories/childhood-autism-syndrome-test-cast
3. An online screening for teenagers. This is for use in kids aged 12-15.
http://www.healthism.com/inventories/autism-in-teens-symptoms-test
4. First Signs – This site is great for parents of very young children and contains the M-CHAT, a quick screening you can take to your doctor.
5. So You’re Wondering If Your Child Might Be Autistic – my own post regarding warning signs of autism in young children.