[Medical Q&A] How to diagnose autism early?

Author: Chen Yanni, Chief Physician, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University

Reviewer: Xiao Nong, Professor of Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that begins in infancy (before the age of 3) and is characterized by varying degrees of social interaction disorders, communication disorders, restricted interests, and stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. Other non-specific problems may also be common, such as phobias, sleep and eating disorders, anger, and self-directed attacks.

There is no strict age limit for early diagnosis of autism, which generally means a clear diagnosis before the age of 2. The following 6 warning signs can be used as early warning tips for identifying high-risk autism.

(1) Children over six months old have normal vision and pay attention to toys and objects but not to people around them.

(2) Children over one year old cannot imitate their parents’ actions or behaviors.

(3) Children over 1 year old have normal hearing but respond poorly to others calling their names.

(4) Children over 18 months old want something but will not actively point to it in order to show it to adults.

(5) Children over 18 months old do not often actively draw their parents’ attention to something or something.

(6) When parents point to something far away, children over one and a half years old will not look in the direction of the parents’ pointing.