What Is Autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a child communicates, socializes, and processes sensory information. The signs often appear before age 3—but many children in India are diagnosed much later, often missing the golden window for early intervention.

Knowing what to look for can make all the difference.

🔍 Early Red Flags of Autism (12–36 Months)

Social Communication Signs:

• Rarely makes eye contact, especially while smiling or feeding

• Doesn’t respond to name by 12 months

• Doesn’t point to show interest or follow your pointing by 14–18 months

• Limited gestures (no waving, nodding, or shaking head)

• Prefers to play alone, seems “in their own world”

Speech and Language Signs:

• No single words by 16 months

• No meaningful two-word phrases by 24 months

• Repeats phrases (echolalia) without context

• Talks less but may sing or recite alphabet/songs on loop

• Doesn’t understand simple instructions

Behavioral and Sensory Signs:

• Lines up toys or objects, rather than playing with them functionally

• Gets upset with minor changes in routine

• Fascinated with spinning wheels, fans, or reflections

• Hyper or hyposensitive to sound, light, texture, or touch

• Rocking, hand-flapping, toe-walking, or spinning themselves

🎯 Not Just “Delayed Speech” or “Shyness”

Many well-meaning relatives may say:

“Boys talk late.”
“Even Einstein didn’t speak till 4.”
“He’s just shy.”

But autism is not a speech delay alone—it involves qualitative differences in interaction and interest. A child may speak late but still point, smile, play peek-a-boo, and show joint attention. If those are missing, an autism screening is needed.

🧪 Screening Tools for Parents

✅ M-CHAT-R/F (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers – Revised)
✅ STAT (Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers)
✅ CARS-2 (Childhood Autism Rating Scale)
✅ ADOS (for formal diagnosis)

As a psychiatrist, I use a combination of tools and clinical observation to make an accurate diagnosis—and most importantly, to rule out other possibilities like hearing loss, global developmental delay, or trauma.

🛠️ What to Do If You Suspect Autism?

1. Don’t delay. Early intervention is most effective between 1.5–3 years.

2. Consult a developmental pediatrician or child psychiatrist.

3. Start therapies even before a formal diagnosis—speech therapy, occupational therapy, and parent training can begin based on early signs.

4. Don’t panic. Many autistic children grow to lead fulfilling, independent lives with the right support.

💬 Real-Life Example

Zain, a 2.5-year-old boy, didn’t respond to his name and was fixated on ceiling fans. His parents were told, “It’s just a phase.” But a timely referral and six months of early therapy helped Zain start using words, interact with peers, and attend preschool.

📍 Dr. Srinivas Rajkumar T
Consultant Psychiatrist – Child, Adolescent & Geriatric Psychiatry
Apollo Clinics Velachery & Tambaram | Mind & Memory Lab
🌐 www.srinivasaiims.com | 📞 +91 85951 55808
Offering early autism screening, diagnosis, and therapy planning.