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NIMH Twitter Chat on Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis
• Science Update
In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will be hosting a Twitter chat on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening and diagnosis.
ASD is a developmental disorder characterized by social impairment, communication difficulties, and repetitive and restrictive behaviors. Early detection and intervention is the key to successful outcomes in children with ASD. However, diagnosing ASD can be difficult since it is based entirely on behavior—there are no established biomarkers for the disorder.
During the Twitter chat, NIMH experts Susan Swedo, M.D., chief of the Pediatrics and Developmental Neuroscience Branch and Audrey Thurm, Ph.D., clinical child psychologist in the Pediatrics and Developmental Neuroscience Branch, will be on hand to discuss how parents and health care providers can work together to accurately diagnose ASD and other developmental disorders in children.
If you think your child may have ASD or you are concerned there could be a problem with your child’s development, please join us on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, from 2 to 3 p.m. EST.
Please use the hashtag #NIMHchats to follow and participate in the Twitter chat. To ask questions, you must have a Twitter account. If you prefer to simply observe the chat taking place, you may enter #NIMHchats at twubs.com to view the conversation in real-time. An archive of the chat will be posted on NIMH’s website following the event.
If you have any questions, please email NIMHpress@nih.gov. See you on Twitter!