One of the more common co-occurring conditions in autism spectrum disorder is epilepsy, with a much higher rate than is seen in the general population. There are peaks in epilepsy diagnosis in ASD in early childhood and adolescence.

What can pediatricians do to support children when they suspect autism and they are waiting for a diagnostic assessment? Make sure they are enrolled in early intervention and refer them to speech language therapy for communication and occupational therapy for adaptive skills.

Pediatric healthcare providers should be prepared to help children with neurodevelopmental concerns obtain timely diagnoses. The CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network estimates that 1 in 36 children have autism spectrum disorder.