EARLY SCREENING, LIFELONG SUPPORT
Autism Screening & Support for Your Child in Northern Illinois
Early identification makes a real difference for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – earlier support often means better outcomes in communication, social skills, and independence. Our pediatricians perform routine autism screening at well visits and provide extra guidance and referrals whenever a parent or provider has a concern, so families in Elgin, Streamwood, Algonquin aren’t left waiting to get answers.
Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Signs can appear as early as 12-18 months and may include limited eye contact, delayed speech or language regression, not responding consistently to their name, repetitive movements or intense focus on specific objects, and difficulty with back-and-forth social interaction like pointing or sharing interest with others. Every child develops differently, but persistent differences across several of these areas are worth discussing at your child’s next visit.
How Autism Screening Works at Our Practice
We use standardized screening tools (such as the M-CHAT) at routine well-child visits, typically around 18 and 24 months, in line with American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations. If a screening raises concerns – or if you raise a concern at any age – we’ll talk through your child’s development in detail and determine appropriate next steps.
What Happens After a Referral
If further evaluation is needed, we’ll refer your child to a developmental pediatrician, psychologist, or early intervention program for formal diagnostic testing. We stay involved throughout this process, coordinating with specialists and helping you access early intervention services, which in many cases can begin even before a formal diagnosis is finalized.
Supporting Your Child’s Development
Whether or not a child receives a formal autism diagnosis, we help connect families with speech therapy, occupational therapy, and early intervention programs available in the Elgin, Streamwood, Algonquin area, and we continue to monitor development at every well visit going forward.
autism
frequently asked questions
At what age can autism be diagnosed?
Autism can often be reliably diagnosed by age 2, and screening at 18 and 24 months is standard practice – though some children aren’t identified until later, especially with milder presentations.
What should I do if I notice signs of autism in my toddler?
Bring your concerns to your child’s next well visit, or call our office to schedule a visit specifically to discuss development. Don’t wait for the next scheduled checkup if something feels off.
Does an autism diagnosis have to come from our pediatrician?
No – pediatricians screen and refer, but a formal autism diagnosis typically comes from a developmental pediatrician, child psychologist, or multidisciplinary evaluation team.
Can early intervention start before an official diagnosis?
Yes. In many cases, children can begin speech, occupational, or developmental therapy through early intervention programs while formal evaluation is still underway.
Autism Screening, Built Into Every Well Visit
Our pediatricians screen for autism spectrum signs at routine checkups, and we’re always glad to talk through your questions in more depth whenever you’d like.
Call 847-742-6888 to Schedule a Developmental Screening
Caring for northern Illinois families for over 40 years
Call for Appointments
847.742.6888
Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 8 am - 5 pm
(Closed for lunch 12 - 1:30pm)
Saturday: 8 am - 12 pm
Sunday: Closed
ELGIN SUMMIT STREET
1015 Summit St
Elgin, IL 60120
ELGIN RANDALL ROAD
1530 N Randall Rd.
Elgin, IL 60123
STREAMWOOD
1020 E Schaumburg Rd. Streamwood, IL 60107
ALGONQUIN
2971 Algonquin Rd. Ste 105
Algonquin, IL 60102
AFTER HOURS
Call 847.742.6888 to reach our answering service. A provider will be paged to assist you. A $25 after-hours fee applies.
For life-threatening emergencies, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.