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
preguntas frecuentes
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
Llevamos más de 40 años al servicio de las familias del norte de Illinois
Llame para concertar una cita
847.742.6888
Horario de atención al público
De lunes a viernes: de 8:00 a 17:00
(Cerrado para comer de 12:00 a 13:30)
Sábado: de las 8:00 a las 12:00
Domingo: Cerrado
CALLE ELGIN SUMMIT
1015 Summit St
, Elgin, IL 60120
CALLE ELGIN RANDALL
1530 N Randall Rd.
Elgin, IL 60123
STREAMWOOD
1020 E Schaumburg Rd. Streamwood, IL 60107
ALGONQUIN
2971 Algonquin Rd., local 105,
, Algonquin, IL 60102
FUERA DEL HORARIO DE ATENCIÓN
Llama al 847.742.6888 para contactar con nuestro servicio de atención telefónica. Se avisará a un profesional para que te atienda. Se aplica una tarifa de 25 dólares por atención fuera del horario habitual.
En caso de emergencias que pongan en peligro la vida, llama al 911 o acude al servicio de urgencias más cercano.