What’s The Difference Between School and Medical Autism Diagnoses?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex condition that affects children and adults in various ways. When it comes to Early Intervention and getting therapy for a young child, an official diagnosis plays a big part in getting the right treatment… and fast. One important aspect of this critical moment in time is understanding the difference between a school-based autism diagnosis and a medical autism diagnosis. While both are useful, they serve different purposes and follow distinct processes. So what’s the difference and why does it matter? Read on!
Autism Diagnosis: Medical vs Educational
Medical Autism Diagnosis
A medical autism diagnosis is conducted by healthcare professionals like pediatricians, neurologists, psychologists, or psychiatrists, and is intended to identify the presence of ASD based on standardized clinical criteria. This diagnosis can open the door to a range of medical and therapeutic interventions and when it comes to receiving therapy, insurance companies will want a POD (Proof of Diagnosis) from one of these professionals. So how does it work?
- Referral: Typically begins with concerns from parents, caregivers, or primary care physicians.
- Comprehensive Evaluation: Involves detailed clinical assessments including developmental history, standardized tests, and behavioral observations. Commonly used tools include the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R).
- Interdisciplinary Approach: If needed, some diagnoses might require input from multiple specialists to assess various aspects of development and functioning.
- Diagnostic Criteria: Follows the criteria for diagnosis found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).
- Follow Up and Next Steps: The process might require a few visits (or telehealth sessions), with a final meeting or discussion to review the findings.
A medical diagnosis is essential for accessing medical treatments, therapy services (such as ABA therapy, speech, occupational, or behavioral therapy), and for eligibility for insurance coverage and government-funded programs.
School-Based Autism Diagnosis
A school-based autism diagnosis, or educational identification, is conducted by a team of educational professionals to determine if a student is eligible for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The focus is on how ASD impacts the student’s educational performance and is led by psychologists or other professionals from the school system. So what’s the process for a school-based diagnosis?
- Referral and Evaluation: Initiated when a parent, teacher, or other school personnel express concerns about a student’s learning, behavior, or social interactions.
- Multidisciplinary Team: Includes special education teachers, school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and other relevant staff members.
- Educational Assessments: Evaluations are centered around the student’s performance in the school environment, involving observations, academic testing, and behavioral assessments.
- Eligibility Criteria: The team uses federal and state guidelines to determine eligibility for special education services, which may include an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
The goal of this type of diagnosis is to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that outlines specific educational goals, accommodations, and services tailored to support the student’s learning needs. This may include special instruction, speech therapy, occupational therapy, or other related services. This diagnosis is extremely useful but is really intended for the student’s learning path in the traditional classroom environment.
Now that we’ve reviewed each of the types of diagnosis, what are some of the key differences we can learn from comparing both types of diagnoses?
Goals:
- Medical Diagnosis: Identifies ASD for medical and therapeutic intervention.
- School-Based Diagnosis: Determines eligibility for special education services based on educational
Evaluators:
- Medical Diagnosis: Conducted by healthcare professionals.
- School-Based Diagnosis: Conducted by educational professionals.
Criteria:
- Medical Diagnosis: Based on DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria.
- School-Based Diagnosis: Based on IDEA and state-specific educational criteria.
Services:
- Medical Diagnosis: Provides access to medical treatments and therapies like ABA
- School-Based Diagnosis: Provides access to special education and related services.
So is one type of diagnosis better than the other? It depends! Having both a medical and a school-based diagnosis can be beneficial. The medical diagnosis helps families understand the full scope of the condition and access necessary medical treatments and therapies. The school-based diagnosis ensures that the child receives appropriate educational support to succeed academically. Yet, for many children, an intensive, center-based environment is required based on the severity of the diagnosis where a traditional classroom environment, even with an IEP, won’t be able to provide the support they need.
For parents and caregivers navigating the complexities of an autism diagnosis, it’s important to understand these differences and look at all options to ensure the right support for their child. Got questions? Wondering what kind of diagnosis you need, how long it takes, or what options are available after?
Verbal Beginnings is here to help! We love helping parents and families navigate diagnoses, insurance, therapy, and training. Reach out today; we’re here to help!
