According to the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, an estimated 1 in 59 children in the U.S. have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (1 in 37 boys and 1 in 151 girls). While the prevalence of autism has increased over the past decade, it’s still a confusing, overwhelming and unfamiliar diagnosis for many families. In this episode, we speak with Cathy Guttentag, PhD, to learn what ASD is, common misconceptions, and the red flags for identification. Additionally, Cathy shares resources for parents, including where to obtain an evaluation, what to expect during the evaluation process, and which services/therapies are often recommended for children on the autism spectrum. 

Dr. Guttentag is a licensed Clinical Child Psychologist and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Children’s Learning Institute at the University of Texas Health Science Center. She received her master’s and doctorate degrees in clinical child psychology from Pennsylvania State University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital. She specializes in providing diagnostic and developmental evaluations to infants and children with possible or diagnosed autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Guttentag has expertise in testing very young children and works collaboratively with parents to determine the most appropriate intervention plans and approaches to emotional and behavioral issues.

Helpful Links: 

• Red Flags for Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Know Before You Go: Advice for Parents Who Have Concerns About ASD
• Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)
• Research-Based Information on Vaccines and Autism
• Children's Learning Institute 

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