Autism can be diagnosed by a variety of healthcare professionals with expertise in developmental disorders. These include:

• Developmental pediatricians
• Psychologists (especially clinical and child psychologists)
• Neurologists
• Psychiatrists

Typically, the diagnostic process involves a team approach, including medical specialists, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and sometimes occupational therapists, especially in specialized autism centers

. General practitioners or pediatricians often initiate screening and developmental monitoring, but they usually refer individuals to specialists for a formal diagnosis

. Teachers and occupational therapists may also notice early signs and refer for evaluation, but they do not provide official diagnoses

. Diagnosis is based on behavioral observations, developmental history, interviews with the individual and family, and standardized diagnostic tools such as the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)

. There is no single medical test for autism; diagnosis relies on comprehensive evaluation of social, communication, and behavioral symptoms

. In summary, autism diagnosis is made by qualified specialists such as developmental pediatricians, psychologists, neurologists, and psychiatrists through a detailed assessment process involving multiple sources of information and standardized tools