Geneva Centre for Autism

Learning Objectives

• Learn ehavioral risk markers for ASD that can be identified between 6 and 18 months;
• Discuss variation in the early course of ASD symptoms and cognitive/language skills
• Discuss sex differences in early expression of risk and outcomes rates.
• Implications for early identification, screening and intervention strategies will also be discussed

Outline of Presentation:

Although children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are often not diagnosed until they are over the age of 3-4 years, many parents identify concerns by 12-18 months of age. Research with high-risk infants has provided new insights into how the behavioral signs of ASD first emerge, and how ‘regression’ or skill loss may occur on a continuum of developmental patterns involving qualitative changes in social and communicative behaviors and plateauing of language and cognitive development in the first 2 years of life. This case-based presentation will use videotaped examples to illustrate how atypical patterns of communication, social and play development can help identify infants and toddlers at increased risk of ASD. Findings that will be highlighted include 1) behavioral risk markers for ASD that can be identified between 6 and 18 months; 2) variation in the early course of ASD symptoms and cognitive/language skills and; 3) sex differences in early expression of risk and outcomes rates. Implications for early identification, screening and intervention strategies will also be discussed.