Autism: What to Look For?

“He’s just so calm,” “She’ll start talking later,” “Boys always develop more slowly”—these are phrases parents often hear when they try to share their concerns. But you know your child best.

Early-onset autism isn’t about “strange” behavior, but about a different way of perceiving the world. It’s when a child doesn’t make eye contact not because they don’t want to, but because that contact is too intense for them. When they don’t respond to their name not because of hearing problems, but because their focus works differently. Early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can appear as early as 12 to 24 months of age.

At the “World of Opportunities” Inclusive Center, we identify key indicators that require professional attention:

• Lack of pointing: the child does not point to things that interest them.
• Weak response to their name: the child may act as if they do not hear when called, even though their hearing is fine.
• Avoiding eye contact: the child has difficulty holding their gaze on an adult’s face.
• Play patterns: lining up toys in a row, focusing on details (for example, only on the wheels of a toy car) rather than on the play itself.
• Sensory sensitivity: an overly intense reaction to certain sounds, light, or the texture of clothing.

The presence of a single symptom is not grounds for a diagnosis, but it is a reason to seek professional consultation.