They Say: How Kids Use Toys Can Show Early Autism Signs

While many parents of autistic children say they realised early on something was different about their kids, the average age of diagnosis is still just around three years of age, meaning that many kids with autism miss the opportunity for valuable early intervention therapies. A new study from UC Davis might offer an aid in early diagnosis of autism based on how babies interact with toys.

"There is an urgent need to develop measures that can pick up early
signs of autism, signs present before 24 months," said Sally Ozonoff, the study's first named author, which appeared in the October issue of Autism, the journal of the National
Autistic Society.

The study looked at 66 one-year-olds, nine of whom were later diagnosed with autism, and found that seven of the nine exhibited unusual behavior when presented with toys such as rattles, rings, and doll baby bottles. The children who were later found to be autistic were more likely to look at toys with a sidelong glance and to repetitively spin or rotate them than were the babies found to be neurotypical.

Further studies are planned, according to Ozonof, who adds that "the earlier you treat a child for autism, the more of an impact you can have on that child's future."