As a Paediatric Neurologist, the most important message I give families is that early signs of autism can appear in the first year of life, well before a formal diagnosis is possible. Knowing what to watch for allows parents to seek assessment at the earliest opportunity, which directly improves outcomes.
- By 6 months: Limited or absent social smiling; reduced eye contact
- By 9 months: Not responding to their name; limited babbling
- By 12 months: Not pointing, waving, or using other gestures; not responding to familiar faces consistently
- By 16 months: No single words
- By 24 months: No two-word meaningful phrases
- At any age: Loss of previously acquired language or social skills - this is a red flag that always requires urgent assessment
These are not definitive diagnostic criteria but are well-recognised developmental flags. If you notice any of these in your child, a consultation with a paediatric neurologist in Bengaluru or developmental paediatrician is the appropriate next step - not a wait-and-see approach.
Written by Dr Sameeta Mercy Prabhu, MBBS, MD Paediatrics, Fellowship in Paediatric Neurology (Manipal University), Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, Rainbow Children's Hospital and BirthRight, Hebbal, Bengaluru. Phone: 7204273076.
