Early Recognition in Autism

Research continues to point to the importance of early detection and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Early diagnosis is highly correlated with dramatically better outcomes. Autism can reliably be diagnosed at 18 months and researchers are actively pursuing reliable methods for detecting warning signs in children even younger, in some cases as young as 12 months. Early warning signs include lack of pointing or gestures, no single words by 16 months, lack of smiling, lack of joint attention and loss of language or social skills at any age. In addition, to these early markers, very young children with ASD may engage in repetitive and stereotyped patterns of specific behaviors or display obsessive interest in certain objects, activities, or parts of objects.

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First Signs National Early Childhood TA Center Autism Society of America