Subjecting your child to an IQ test really depends on you. As a parent, it is good to know what your child’s cognitive mental capacity is but, at the same time, not knowing is not something you need to be concerned about. IQ testing is mostly eagerly suggested for children…

Genetic testing is done by getting blood sample from your child. The needle prick needed to obtain the blood sample is fairly painful and should be explained to your child before hand so that he will cooperate during the actual extraction.

An IQ test does not really need any preparation, since your child is being tested for his innate mental capacity. Children with autism most likely need preparation in terms of introducing and familiarizing them with the event, personnel, and setting of the test since they naturally avoid out-of-routine events.

Educational institutions, upon enrollment, usually require IQ tests. It helps give teachers or psychologists a basis of your child’s mental capabilities and limitations, in order for them to plan the appropriate educational intervention for your child.

Metabolic screening is a specialized test that focuses in identifying inborn errors of Metabolism. These disorders are usually unnoticeable at birth and gradually develop as the child grows.

The only difference of a video EEG from a regular EEG is the video recording of your child during the procedure. It helps the neurologist view what happened before, during and after a seizure episode.

An EEG may last form 1 to 2 hours. If an overnight recording of your child’s brain activity is required then you may be asked to stay overnight in a hospital to complete the test.

A Computer Assisted Axial Tomography (CAT Scan) does expose you and the baby inside the womb to radiation. Although the level of radiation is considered safe, pregnant women are usually advised not to have a CT scan in order to prevent any damage to the unborn child.

The CAT scan does not hurt. However, if your physician ordered a CAT scan with contrast then that would mean that a dye must be injected to you via an IV route during the procedure. The insertion of IV needle may be painful for our child but the scan itself…

The scoring procedure in the CARS is that standard scores of 30-37 mean your child has mild autism while scores between 38-60 are characterized as severe autism. It is still best to have a certified autism expert or healthcare provider interpret your child’s score.