Deviations from Typical Developmental Trajectories Detectable at 9 Months of Age in Low Risk Children Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Low-risk babies later diagnosed with ASD already miss language and motor milestones by the 9-month check-up.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Doctors tracked low-risk babies who later got an autism diagnosis. They checked milestone lists at regular 6- and 9-month visits.
The team compared these babies to peers who hit milestones on time and to babies with other delays.
What they found
All babies looked typical at 6 months. By 9 months the later-ASD group failed more language and motor items.
These gaps showed up in everyday check-ups, not special labs.
How this fits with other research
Nixon et al. (2014) saw the same 9-month language lag using babble counts instead of checklists. The two studies back each other up.
Palomo et al. (2022) added that these babies also initiate joint attention less and ignore their name at the same age. Michael et al. give the big picture; Rubén zooms in on social cues.
Wan et al. (2019) pooled many papers and found parent-infant interaction differences starting in the second half of the first year. Their review includes the 9-month window Michael et al. document, tying milestone gaps to everyday play.
Why it matters
You can spot red flags during routine 9-month visits without extra gear. If a baby fails language or motor items, note it and share with the pediatrician. Early referral means earlier intervention and better long-term gains.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study was designed to track the developmental trajectory, during the first 24 months of life, of 335 low-risk infants later diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and identify early deviations observed in routine Well Care checkups. We compared their achievements to typically developing children and to children later diagnosed with non-autistic developmental impairments. The results show that in the first 6 months, the children with autism showed normal acquisition of milestones, whereas by 9 months of age they began to fail the language/communication, as well as motor items when compared to typical and delayed non-autistic children. Regular check-up visits may be useful in detecting early failure in achieving milestones, leading to earlier referral for further evaluation and treatment.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2018 · doi:10.1007/s10803-018-3549-2