How soon can autism be detected in children

Early signs of autism can be detected as early as 11 mths. Early diagnosis and early intervention can help the child overcome certain challenges and facilitate skills for learning and independent living. As parents, if we see any signs in our child which may be signifiantly inappopritae for that age, it is in our best interest and that of our child, to get it evaluated at the earliest by a developmental pediatrician. At the same time, every developmental sign which may not seem right need to point towards the child being autistic. However any deviation in the child's development such as  lack of speech, coordination, eye contact are signs that we should take cognizance of, and consult a developmental pediatrician. Jill Sanghvi, a Senior Therapist from UMMEED Child Development Center,  Mumbai talks about the importance of identifying these early signs and consulting an expert.