Don’t Wait: Spot Autism Early

Early behavioral signs of autism can appear between 6 and 24 months—often in social connection, communication, sensory-motor patterns, and developmental trajectory. Parents may notice reduced eye contact, fewer gestures or vocalizations, and limited joint attention, with some children showing plateau or regression of skills. Acting early matters: online psychiatry enables fast, structured history-taking, screening discussions, and referrals for in-person assessments when needed, alongside coaching for home strategies. Doctors365 offers verified psychiatrists, secure video visits, and convenient scheduling with transparent pricing. Learn practical at-home observations to prepare, understand what’s appropriate for online vs. in-person care, and book a timely consultation to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Educational disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for personal medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or emergency care. If you are concerned about your child’s safety or health, call your local emergency number or seek in-person medical attention immediately.

Author: Dr. Diellza Rabushaj

1. What this article covers

• The earliest behavioral signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that parents commonly notice between 6 and 24 months [1–9].
• How online psychiatry can accelerate assessment, triage, and referrals, without delaying in-person care when needed [5,6,9].
• A parent-ready plan to prepare for your first online visit, including what videos, observations, and history to have on hand [5,7,9].
• Direct access to Doctors365 psychiatrists with child and family mental health expertise—book in minutes, meet securely online.

Short on time? If you recognize several signs listed below (especially loss of skills or lack of pointing by ~18 months), consider scheduling an online psychiatric assessment today:
Book a licensed psychiatrist: here

2. Why spotting autism early matters

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with its first noticeable differences often emerging in the first two years of life. Multiple prospective and cohort studies show that early social-communication differences can be observed by 6–12 months in high-risk infants (e.g., siblings of autistic children), and become more apparent by 12–24 months in community samples [1–4,6–9]. Early recognition enables timely developmental surveillance, targeted screening, parent coaching, and referrals—all associated with better language and social outcomes when supports begin earlier in life [1,5–7,9].

Bottom line: if you suspect something is “different,” that intuition is valuable. Early conversation beats late certainty—and you don’t have to wait until preschool to raise concerns [2,5–7,9].

3. Early signs parents often notice between 6–24 months

The signs below don’t diagnose autism on their own, but clusters of behaviors—especially when persistent—warrant prompt discussion with a clinician.

3.1 Social connection & joint attention

• Less eye contact with caregivers or faces, particularly during play or feeding routines; a declining trajectory from 6 to 12 months can be informative [6,8,9].
• Reduced social smiling or fewer attempts to share interest (e.g., less showing or pointing to objects to get you to look) [5,6,8,9].
• Joint attention differences (less looking back-and-forth between a caregiver and an object of interest) distinguish ASD from typical development and other delays in the second year of life [5,6,8,9].

What parents can try at home: During play, point to and name objects (“Look! A car!”). Notice whether your child alternates gaze between your face and the object; note frequency and context to share with your clinician [5,6].

3.2 Communication & language

• Fewer gestures (e.g., pointing, showing, waving) and fewer communicative vocalizations by 12 months; gesture delays are highly specific markers in some studies, though not all autistic toddlers show them [3,5,6,10].
• Slower single-word comprehension/production, fewer babbles directed to people, or limited response to name compared to peers [3,5–7,10].
• In 18–24 months, reduced rate of communicative acts and limited combination of gesture + gaze + vocalization can predict later language outcomes [5,10].

3.3 Sensory & motor patterns

• Atypical visual tracking or difficulty disengaging attention; differences in fine motor skills may appear during the first year [6,8,9].
• Repetitive behaviors (e.g., repeated hand/finger movements, object spinning), unusual play, or rigid patterns become more obvious in the second year [1,4,6,7,9].
• Some children display heightened or lowered sensory responses (to sound, touch, light) alongside social-communication differences [1,5–7,9].

3.4 Developmental trajectory (plateau or regression)

• Many infants appear similar to peers at ~6 months, but differences emerge and widen by 12–18 months [6–9].
• A subset experience regression—loss of previously acquired words or gestures—often reported between 12–24 months. Parental report may miss subtle loss, which systematic observation can capture [2,6–9].
• Patterns of plateau (skills not progressing) or regression both warrant immediate evaluation [2,6–9].

4. When to seek an online psychiatrist—and why it helps now

Online psychiatry is a highly practical first step when you notice several signs or feel unsure how concerned to be. Here’s why:

• Speed: You can share concerns right away, obtain structured developmental history, and receive next-step guidance (e.g., screening tools, referrals for speech/OT, developmental pediatrics, or in-person ASD evaluation) [5–7,9].
• Clarity: A psychiatrist can help differentiate ASD from communication delay, sensory processing differences, or broader developmental patterns, and integrate family history and co-occurring concerns (sleep, feeding, anxiety) into a plan [5–7,9].
• Continuity: Online follow-ups support coaching on parent–child interaction strategies, behavior plans, and tracking of milestones while you wait for community services [1,5–7,9].

Online care does not replace in-person assessment when needed—but it does get you moving today, reduces waiting anxiety, and coordinates the right pathway faster [1,5–7,9].

5. How Doctors365 works (step-by-step)

1. Browse our roster of verified psychiatrists and child-mind specialists on doctors365.org.
2. Pick a time that fits your schedule from the doctor’s live calendar.
3. Confirm & pay securely to finalize your appointment.
4. Join your secure visit from any device (no special software required).
5. Get your summary, recommendations, and prescriptions (as clinically appropriate) right after the session.

6. Benefits of choosing Doctors365 for early concerns

• 24/7 access & convenience: Book from home, including evenings and weekends—ideal for nap schedules and working parents.
• Privacy: Encrypted video visits and secure records by design.
• Reduced costs: Avoid unnecessary travel and initial ER/urgent visits when a timely online assessment can triage appropriately.
• Continuity of care: Easy follow-ups help parents implement strategies and check progress while awaiting other services.

7. Quality, governance & privacy you can trust

• Verified clinicians: Licensure and identity checks are standard.
• Clinical governance: Evidence-based pathways and escalation criteria to ensure safe triage and referral when in-person assessment is indicated [5–7,9].
• Security: End-to-end encryption and strict access controls protect your family’s information.

8. Meet our child & family mental health specialists (online)

You can book these Doctors365 psychiatrists directly:

• Dejan Dimitrijevic, MD — Psychiatry & Psychology (Serbia)
• Dr sc med Gorica Djokic — Neurosurgery/Neurology & Psychiatry and Psychology (Serbia)
• Uwe Waldmann, MD — Psychiatry & Psychology (Germany)
• Zoran Pavlovic, MD — Psychiatry & Psychology (Serbia)
• Rose Gomez, MD — Psychiatry & Psychology (USA)

Prefer to browse by specialty? See all Psychiatry:

9. What’s appropriate for online care vs. in-person evaluation

Online is appropriate for:

• Initial concern review (e.g., “Is this typical?”), developmental history, and screening discussion [5–7,9].
• Guidance on parent–child interaction strategies and home observations/videos your clinician can review to inform next steps [1,5–7,9].
• Coaching for sleep, routines, behavior supports, and referrals (speech/OT/developmental pediatrics) [5–7,9].
• Monitoring progress and care coordination—especially helpful during waiting periods.

In-person is required urgently if any red flags are present:

• Loss of previously acquired words or gestures (regression), no babbling by 12 months, no single words by 16 months, or no two-word phrases by 24 months [5–7,9].
• Hearing or vision concerns, seizures, significant feeding issues, failure to thrive, or suspected neglect/abuse—seek immediate medical evaluation.
• Medical emergencies (injury, sudden illness, safety risk): call your local emergency number.

Your Doctors365 psychiatrist will escalate to in-person services when indicated and help you navigate local resources.

10. Practical, parent-friendly screening pointers

These simple ideas can make your online consult more precise and productive:

• Three short home videos (30–60s each):
  1. Play with a favorite toy; 2) Snack time; 3) Storytime or song.
     Capture eye contact, responsiveness to name, gestures, and joint attention (looking between you and the object) [5,6,8,9].
• Milestone notes: When did your child first smile socially? Babble? Point? Clap? Walk? Any loss of skills? Dates matter [2,6–9].
• Sensory snapshot: Sounds, textures, lights—what seems soothing vs. overwhelming? Note consistent patterns [1,5–7,9].
• Play profile: What toys/activities attract attention? How does your child use objects (functional use vs. repetitive patterns)? [1,4–7,9].
• Family history: Neurodevelopmental conditions, language delay, learning differences—share this background [5–7,9].

11. Preparing for your first online consultation

• Complete pre-visit questionnaires if provided (e.g., age-appropriate autism or communication screeners).
• List your top 3 concerns and 3 best moments (what your child loves, does well) to capture a balanced picture.
• Set up a quiet space with familiar toys; have snacks and favorite books ready to elicit natural behaviors.
• Device setup: Stable internet, camera at face level, and room lighting that clearly shows your child’s expressions.
• Invite another caregiver if possible; two observers remember different details.

12. Pricing & availability

Fees vary by clinician and appointment length. You’ll see transparent pricing and available times on each doctor’s page before you book:

• Dejan Dimitrijevic, MD
• Dr sc med Gorica Djokic
• Uwe Waldmann, MD
• Zoran Pavlovic, MD
• Rose Gomez, MD

13. Strong reasons to act early (myth-busting)

• “Let’s wait and see” may delay support. Studies show many early differences arise before age 2, and timely intervention matters for language and social outcomes [1,5–7,9].
• Not every sign means autism—but clusters are informative. A psychiatrist can help pattern-match concerns to next steps (e.g., hearing test, speech evaluation, surveillance) [5–7,9].
• Regression is not always obvious. Clinical observation and video review can detect subtle loss of skills that parents might not notice in real time [2,6–9].
• You can start helpful strategies now. Parent–child communication boosts and structured routines are low-risk, high-benefit while you await formal evaluation [1,5–7,9].

14. Frequently asked questions

Q1. What are the most reliable early signs to look for?
A combination of reduced joint attention, limited gestures, less social smiling/eye contact, and language delays by 12–24 months is particularly informative, especially when persistent across settings [3,5,6,8–10].

Q2. Can autism be identified before 12 months?
Many infants look typical at ~6 months, with differences emerging by 6–12 months in high-risk groups and becoming clearer in the second year. Screening below 12 months has lower sensitivity, so ongoing surveillance across time is key [1,6–9].

Q3. My child lost words they had. Is that an emergency?
Regression warrants prompt evaluation. Book an online psychiatrist now for guidance and seek in-person pediatric assessment, hearing testing, and referral for developmental evaluation [2,5–9].

Q4. What home strategies can we start while we wait?
Daily face-to-face play, labeling interests, modeling gestures, imitative play, and routines help build communication. Your psychiatrist can tailor strategies and coordinate speech/OT referrals [1,5–7,9].

Q5. Will online care replace in-person diagnostic testing?
No. Online psychiatry accelerates history-taking, screening, and triage, then coordinates in-person assessments (e.g., standardized ASD evaluations) when appropriate [5–7,9].

15. Conclusion

If you’re noticing patterns like limited pointing, reduced eye contact, fewer gestures or vocalizations, or any loss of skills, don’t wait for a calendar milestone. Early conversation drives early support—and that can shape communication and learning trajectories in meaningful ways [1–7,9,10].

Book a licensed psychiatrist now (online):

• Dejan Dimitrijevic, MD
• Dr sc med Gorica Djokic
• Uwe Waldmann, MD
• Zoran Pavlovic, MD
• Rose Gomez, MD

Prefer to browse? All Psychiatry

References

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2. Chawarska K, Paul R, Klin A, Hannigen S, Dichtel LE, Volkmar F. Parental Recognition of Developmental Problems in Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2006;37(1):62–72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0330-8
3. Webb SJ, Jones EJH. Early Identification of Autism. Infants Young Child. 2009;22(2):100–18. https://doi.org/10.1097/IYC.0b013e3181a02f7f
4. Barbaro J, Dissanayake C. Prospective Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Infancy and Toddlerhood Using Developmental Surveillance: The Social Attention and Communication Study. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2010;31(5):376–85. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0b013e3181df7f3c
5. Zwaigenbaum L, Bryson S, Lord C, Rogers S, Carter A, Carver L, et al. Clinical Assessment and Management of Toddlers With Suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder: Insights From Studies of High-Risk Infants. Pediatrics. 2009;123(5):1383–91. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-1606
6. Ozonoff S, Iosif A-M, Baguio F, Cook IC, Hill MM, Hutman T, et al. A Prospective Study of the Emergence of Early Behavioral Signs of Autism. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010;49(3):256–62.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2009.11.009
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8. Zwaigenbaum L, Bryson S, Rogers T, Roberts W, Brian J, Szatmari P. Behavioral manifestations of autism in the first year of life. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2004;23(2–3):143–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2004.05.001
9. Mitchell S, Brian J, Zwaigenbaum L, Roberts W, Szatmari P, Smith I, Bryson S. Early Language and Communication Development of Infants Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2006;27(Suppl 2):S69–78. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004703-200604002-00004
10. Shumway S, Wetherby AM. Communicative Acts of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Second Year of Life. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2009;52(5):1139–56. https://doi.org/10.1044/1092-4388(2009/07-0280)