Technical report: The pediatrician's role in the diagnosis and management of autistic spectrum disorder in children

Autism and its milder variants are not rare. Most pediatricians will have t he opportunity to provide a medical home for a child with autism. This tech nical report serves to complement and expand on the information in the acco mpanying policy statement to increase the pediatrician's fund of knowledge and comfort level in caring for children with autism. In so doing, it is an ticipated that earlier diagnosis and referral for appropriate intervention will be possible and that this will, in turn, have a positive effect on lon g-term outcomes for children with autism and their families.