In Russia, they use a special M-CHAT-R/F questionnaire for parents, a professor at the Russian National Research Medical University, for screening for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which is carried out when the child is 2 years old. NI Pirogova of the Ministry of Health of Russia after MV, principal investigator of the Research Institute of Pediatrics and Child Health, pediatrician Tatyana Turti.
“M-CHAT-R/F is a questionnaire consisting of twenty questions that can be answered as “yes” or “no”, each of which is assigned a score. When scoring: 0-2 low risk, 3-7 medium risk, and 8-20 high risk of ASD. There are also true and false positive results. Also, in any case, you need to conduct an in-depth examination with a pediatrician, neurologist, audiologist, understand. With the average and high risk of ASD, it is imperative to consult a psychiatrist because only he or she has the right to make a diagnosis of ASD,” said the specialist.
According to him, there is also the concept of early aid in Russia. Once diagnosed with ASD, a child may be placed in the target age group of 0 to 3 years old for early intervention.
“Parents can seek and seek help from an interdisciplinary team of health professionals, educational psychologists, and social workers. The child is necessarily under the supervision of a psychiatrist, psychological correction is made, the method of behavioral therapy is used, ”explained Turti.
Turti noted that at the moment psychotropic drugs for ASD are not used, their appointment is possible only under strict indications prescribed by a psychiatrist.
The expert said, “The earlier the diagnosis of ASD is made and the earlier the corrective treatment is started, the better the child’s health, behavior, socialization, and quality of life.”
Learn more about the earliest signs of autism, at what age it can be detected, and how ASD is treated in Russia. report “socialbites.ca”.