Diagnosing Autism by CD-rom?

Learning for Children develops software games for detecting autism and dyslexia in children. An Autism Testing CD-rom can be purchased for $49.95 to help a parent decided whether further testing of their child is needed.

I am a little puzzled at the description of autism on the Learning for Children website, which refers to autism as a “disturbance.”

Autism is a disturbance in the psychological development in which use of language, reaction to stimuli, interpretation of the world, and formation of relationships are not fully established, and follow unusual patterns. Autim [sic] has a wide range of symptoms of symptoms varying in severity. Learning for Children’s Diagnostic Gaming® series gives valuable clues to help you determine if your child or student may have this disturbance.

While I do agree with Learning for Children’s statement that “Early detection is paramount for building an effective educational and treatment program” (see this post, ‘Early’ ‘Intervention’), I do not at all see my autistic son as “disturbed”; I also find Learning for Children’s calling on parents to “LEARN ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT WHILE THEY CAN STILL BE HELPED!” rather alarmist. It is misleading to suggest that there is only a short “window” during which children with autism can be “helped.” Autistic children, like my nine-year-old son Charlie, can learn throughout their whole lives, at any age.

And I also think that , if you are concerned that your child may have autism, a CD-rom is not the first place you may wish to turn.