Autism: A special consultation to look for early signs

Since February 11, 2019, if autism is suspected in a child, general practitioners and pediatricians can do a long, reimbursed consultation €60.

The objective of this consultation is to accompany the child and his family in the diagnostic process, to orient him as soon as possible, if necessary, to a structure capable of carrying out a complete evaluation aimed at confirming the diagnosis and implementing the interventions necessary for the child.

During this complex consultation, the doctor can further explore the warning signs by means of

good practice

adapted and using questionnaires validated by the international scientific community.

These warning signs are first of all the parents' concern about their child's development (particularly in terms of social communication and language), the absence of babbling, pointing of objects at a distance to communicate or other social gestures (such as waving or goodbye, etc.) at 12 months and beyond, the absence of words at 18 months and beyond, the absence of non-echolalic association of words (i.e. outside the strict repetition of the last words of the interlocutor) at 24 months and beyond.