TABLE 1.

Early Signs of Autism

Social-communication, notably a lack of/atypicalities in

Eye gaze and shared/joint attention

Affect and its regulation (eg, less positive and more negative affect)

Social/reciprocal smiling

Social interest and shared enjoyment (in absence of physical contact such as tickling)

Orienting to name called

Development of gestures (eg, pointing)

Coordination of different modes of communication (eg, eye gaze, facial expression, gesture, vocalization)

Play, notably

Reduced imitation of actions with objects

Excessive manipulation/visual exploration of toys and other objects

Repetitive actions with toys and other objects

Language and cognition, notably a lack of/delays or atypicalities in

Cognitive development

Babbling, particularly back-and-forth social babbling

Language comprehension and production (eg, odd first words or unusually repetitive)

Unusual prosody/tone of voice

Regression/loss of early words and/or social-emotional engagement/connectedness

Visual/other sensory and motor, notably

Atypical visual tracking, visual fixation (eg, on lights) and unusual inspection of objects

Underreactive and/or overreactive to sounds or other forms of sensory stimulation

Decreased activity levels and delayed fine and gross motor skills

Repetitive motor behaviors and atypical posturing/motor mannerisms

Atypicalities in regulatory functions related to sleep, eating, and attention