Nationwide ASD Screening

A screening program will soon begin to identify children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across the country, announced deputy for rehabilitation at the State Welfare Organization. “The outlines of the project, the first of its kind, are ready and it will soon take off nationwide,” Hossein Nahvinejad told IRNA. ASD is often diagnosed when it is too late for intervention, imposing a great burden on the society. That is why the SWO has planned to take action for timely screening and diagnosis through standard tests, he added. There are about 2,200 children with ASD registered at the SWO. ASD is the name for a group of developmental disorders including a wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of disability such as ongoing social problems, difficulty communicating, repetitive behaviors, and limited interests or activities.