One of the complicating factors in successfully assessing and diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children is the similarity in symptoms of children living with trauma. While trauma symptoms and ASD traits do not always align, there are similarities in terms of developmental delays that can complicate diagnoses, particularly in non-verbal autistic individuals.
Understanding the similarities between ASD and trauma, as well as using this guide to help you better differentiate the difference between trauma and ASD, will drastically improve developmental outcomes.
Trauma treatments will significantly vary from the intervention strategies needed to help those with ASD. Accurately assessing a child is critical, and using a comprehensive approach is the best way to do it.
The Relationship Between Trauma and ASD
There is a complicated relationship between trauma and ASD. Trauma, for example, can cause similar developmental delays in children with ASD. Children with ASD, however, are also at an increased risk of acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (Li et al., 2024). Furthermore, trauma symptoms could overshadow ASD traits (Kuhl-Meltzoff Stavropoulos et al., 2018). Being able to differentiate between trauma-related delays and ASD-related delays will make a difference in terms of how practical the intervention strategy recommendations are in the life of the child.
How to Differentiate Between Trauma and ASD Developmental Delays
Be Fully Aware of the Overlap Between Trauma and ASD
The first step to differentiating between trauma symptoms and ASD is understanding them each on their own. Be familiar with how trauma presents in young children, particularly regarding developmental milestones and the overlap between those symptoms and ASD traits.
Only by fully understanding how trauma symptoms overlap with ASD traits can you begin to remove internal bias and provide more accurate assessments.
Use the Best Practice Tools to Screen for Trauma
One of the best ways to differentiate between ASD and trauma is to screen for trauma during the assessment process through interview-based assessment tools like MIDGAS-2, by using a trauma screening tool, and by creating a trauma timeline.
Become Trauma Informed
One of the most challenging aspects of identifying trauma in those with ASD or trauma-based developmental delays is when adults cannot identify a clear traumatic event. If the signs point towards trauma, intervention with CPS or other trauma-informed agencies is essential. Abuse and neglect are unfortunately common, with research from the Crimes Against Children Research Center reporting that approximately 1 in 7 children experience some form of maltreatment, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect.
Expand Your Diagnostic Process with MIDGAS-2
Tools like ADOS-2 can be effective in identifying ASD traits; however, you must understand the why behind behavior, even behavior often classified as neurotypical.(MIGDAS-2) Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition is an interview-based approach that can help link traits or symptoms with their cause. It involves interviews with the child, parents, and other notable figures in the child’s life. Understanding the thought process behind behavior can help you identify the source. In some cases, suspected ASD traits are actually PTSD symptoms, while in other cases, the child could be autistic and have also experienced trauma.
You can learn more about using the MIDGAS-2 manual or full kit from its publisher, WPS.