Over 700,000 people in the UK are on the autism spectrum - that's a lot of people and families for whom it's a part of everyday life. However, for parents who believe their child may be affected by autism, getting a diagnosis isn't always easy.

英國70萬多人都可能患有自閉癥--對于很多人、很多家庭而言，自閉癥是他們日常生活的一部分。然而，對于覺得自己的孩子可能患上自閉癥的家長而言，診斷卻并非易事。

Firstly, the symptoms can be difficult detect in a child under three-years-old and typically, a diagnosis aren't made until a child is about five. However, a test has been developed to help parents and doctors identify the signs earlier - when the child is still a toddler.

首先，很難發現三歲以下兒童的自閉癥癥狀，通常來說，小孩子5歲左右的時候才能被診斷出是否患有該疾病。但是，一項測試已制定出來，以幫助家長和醫生更早的識別這些跡象--小孩子剛蹣跚學步的時候就能診斷。

Psychological Development Questionnaire (PDQ-1) has been put together by Rutgers University, and researchers say it can spot autism 88 per cent of the time, The Sun reports. The test asked parents to look at whether their child gestures to show interest or get attention, responds to their name, enjoys playing peek-a-boo, speaks in phrases and relates to others.

英國《太陽報》報道：羅格斯大學組合了一份心理發展問卷（PDQ-1），研究人員表示正確診斷出自閉癥的幾率為88%。這項測試要求家長觀察他們孩子的舉動是表現出興趣還是為了吸引別人的注意力、叫他們的名字是否會應答、是否喜歡玩躲貓貓、能否成句成句的說話、是否與他人互動。

Low scores typically occurred when a parent got more "no" answers than "yes" answers. Children who got low PDQ-1 scores were thought to be potentially on the spectrum, and were then referred for evaluation to determine if this was the case.

如果回答"不"的次數超過"是"，那么低分情況就會出現。PDQ-1分數低的孩子被認為可能患有自閉癥，然后會對他們進行評估，以診斷他們是否患有該疾病。

The study looked at 1959 children aged between 18 and 36 months, all of whom are believed to have no developmental issues. Lead author Walter Zahorodny, a professor in paediatrics at the university, said:

研究調查了1959名18至36個月的兒童，這些兒童都被認為沒有發展問題。羅格斯大學的兒科教授、首席作者Walter Zahorodny說道：

"The availability of valid and efficient screeners, like the PDQ-1, may enhance our ability to detect ASD in young children and expand the number of youngsters receiving early intervention." However he also added: "Diagnosis of autism can only be accomplished through comprehensive evaluation by a professional.

"心理發展問卷之類有效、高效的篩查或能提高我們檢測幼兒自閉癥譜系障礙的能力、增加接受早期干預的幼兒人數。"然而，他也補充說："自閉癥診斷只有通過專業人員的綜合評估才能完成。"

"Effective screening is but the first step toward diagnosis. If we want to improve early detection, easy-to-use and reliable autism screeners need to be widely used."

"有效的篩查只是診斷的第一步。如果想提高早期檢測，那么易于使用的、可靠的自閉癥篩查器則需被廣泛使用。"

Over 700,000 people in the UK are on the autism spectrum - that's a lot of people and families for whom it's a part of everyday life. However, for parents who believe their child may be affected by autism, getting a diagnosis isn't always easy.

英國70萬多人都可能患有自閉癥--對于很多人、很多家庭而言，自閉癥是他們日常生活的一部分。然而，對于覺得自己的孩子可能患上自閉癥的家長而言，診斷卻并非易事。

Firstly, the symptoms can be difficult detect in a child under three-years-old and typically, a diagnosis aren't made until a child is about five. However, a test has been developed to help parents and doctors identify the signs earlier - when the child is still a toddler.

首先，很難發現三歲以下兒童的自閉癥癥狀，通常來說，小孩子5歲左右的時候才能被診斷出是否患有該疾病。但是，一項測試已制定出來，以幫助家長和醫生更早的識別這些跡象--小孩子剛蹣跚學步的時候就能診斷。

Psychological Development Questionnaire (PDQ-1) has been put together by Rutgers University, and researchers say it can spot autism 88 per cent of the time, The Sun reports. The test asked parents to look at whether their child gestures to show interest or get attention, responds to their name, enjoys playing peek-a-boo, speaks in phrases and relates to others.

英國《太陽報》報道：羅格斯大學組合了一份心理發展問卷（PDQ-1），研究人員表示正確診斷出自閉癥的幾率為88%。這項測試要求家長觀察他們孩子的舉動是表現出興趣還是為了吸引別人的注意力、叫他們的名字是否會應答、是否喜歡玩躲貓貓、能否成句成句的說話、是否與他人互動。

Low scores typically occurred when a parent got more "no" answers than "yes" answers. Children who got low PDQ-1 scores were thought to be potentially on the spectrum, and were then referred for evaluation to determine if this was the case.

如果回答"不"的次數超過"是"，那么低分情況就會出現。PDQ-1分數低的孩子被認為可能患有自閉癥，然后會對他們進行評估，以診斷他們是否患有該疾病。

The study looked at 1959 children aged between 18 and 36 months, all of whom are believed to have no developmental issues. Lead author Walter Zahorodny, a professor in paediatrics at the university, said:

研究調查了1959名18至36個月的兒童，這些兒童都被認為沒有發展問題。羅格斯大學的兒科教授、首席作者Walter Zahorodny說道：

"The availability of valid and efficient screeners, like the PDQ-1, may enhance our ability to detect ASD in young children and expand the number of youngsters receiving early intervention." However he also added: "Diagnosis of autism can only be accomplished through comprehensive evaluation by a professional.

"心理發展問卷之類有效、高效的篩查或能提高我們檢測幼兒自閉癥譜系障礙的能力、增加接受早期干預的幼兒人數。"然而，他也補充說："自閉癥診斷只有通過專業人員的綜合評估才能完成。"

"Effective screening is but the first step toward diagnosis. If we want to improve early detection, easy-to-use and reliable autism screeners need to be widely used."

"有效的篩查只是診斷的第一步。如果想提高早期檢測，那么易于使用的、可靠的自閉癥篩查器則需被廣泛使用。"