C. Lord et S. Risi, FRAMEWORKS AND METHODS IN DIAGNOSING AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS, Mental retardation and developmental disabilities research reviews, 4(2), 1998, pp. 90-96
Recent issues and research addressing conceptualizations of diagnostic
frameworks for autism spectrum disorders are discussed. Strengths of
current systems, including comparability across international criteria
, attention to developmental variation, and broader inclusion of indiv
iduals with social-communicative dysfunction are highlighted. Controve
rsial issues, including difficulties in identifying thresholds for per
vasive developmental disorders other than autism, implications of age
of onset, and the appropriateness of diagnostic hierarchies, are also
considered. Specific instruments for diagnosis are discussed in terms
of current conceptualizations of autism spectrum disorders. (C) 1998 W
iley-Liss, Inc.