Table 2.

Early signs of autism spectrum disorder

Does not respond to his/her name by 12 months of age

Does not point at objects in order to show interest by 14 months of age (e.g., not pointing at an airplane flying by)

Does not engage in pretend play of “feeding a doll with food” by 18 months of age

Avoids eye contact and wants to be alone

Difficulty in understanding other people’s emotions or expressing their own emotions

Delayed abilities in speech and language

Echolalia

Giving unrelated answers to questions

Being upset when minor changes occur

Obsessive interests

Flapping hands, rocking back and forth, or spinning in circles

Unusual reactions to sound, smell, taste, appearance, or feel of objects