Early identification of autism

This study was carried out to determine the nature and timing of parents initial concerns and their subsequent help seeking behavior, so as to suggest ways to facilitate early identification of autism. The introductory part of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised was used in a survey to elicit relevant information from parents of autistic children. Delayed/deviant speech and language development was the commonest early concern of parents. The mean age of parental recognition of any problem was 23.4 months. The mean time lag from first recognition of the problem to seeking professional help was 4 months and to diagnosis, 32 months. In 68 % of cases, the first professional consulted was a child specialist.