Overview

• Researchers at the University of Missouri’s Thompson Center identified specific infant behaviors at 9 months that correlate with early autism signs by 12 months.
• Parent-reported behaviors such as increased fussiness, poor adaptability, and developmental delays were key indicators in the study.
• The findings could shift autism detection earlier from the typical diagnostic age of 3 to 5 years, allowing for more timely interventions.
• The study highlights the value of caregiver observations, emphasizing parents’ expertise in recognizing early developmental differences.
• Future research aims to integrate these findings with machine learning and electronic medical records for scalable early screening tools.