Who can do autism diagnoses but doesn’t?

One point of frustration for parents is that many entities can make an initial screening for autism, but don’t.  Parents easily find internet checklists and often guess autism, but professionals in daily contact with the child rarely share their opinion. Parents often spend time hearing hints to read books on autism and suggestions to go to “Dennis” but have no understanding of what’s going on.

These other possible sources of an autism diagnosis are:

• School IEP teams
• Pediatricians
• Assorted therapists
• Psychiatrists
• Many doctors

Why so little advice from professionals? I think it’s because many of the above groups are very reluctant to tell the parents the bad news: “Your child has a disability that almost no one will pay to treat,” “I kinda think he might have—well—autism.  Ask someone who knows more.” “I can diagnose autism but can’t help you.  You have a 5-minute visit." Why give a diagnosis of autism when there are no resources, no 800 numbers to call for state help?

Also, a definitive autism diagnosis takes a lot of time with consultation among many different professionals.  The isolated professional will feel very uncomfortable stepping forward to give a diagnosis of autism, a diagnosis that can be overruled by a more experienced evaluation team.