Advances in the early detection of autism

Abstract

Purpose of review: Early detection and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) allows opportunities for children and their families to benefit more fully from early supports and interventions.

Recent findings: Recent advances in early detection research have resulted from prospective studies of high-risk infants and large ASD screening studies conducted in community settings. With improvement in early detection of autism, exciting progress has been made in establishing the efficacy of ASD-specific interventions for toddlers as young as 18 months on the basis of controlled clinical trials.

Summary: There has been increasing emphasis on opportunities to link early behavioral expression to the underlying neurobiology of ASD, potentially bringing us closer to the fundamental mechanisms underlying this disorder.