Early indicators of autism spectrum disorders at 12 and 24 months of age: a prospective, longitudinal comparative study.

Veness et al. (2012) followed a community sample of babies from well-baby clinics. They gave parents the CDI at 12 months and the CSBS at 24 months.

All children were later sorted into four groups: autism, other delays, mixed clinical, or typical. The team asked which early scores best split the groups.

Gesture scores, not word scores, did the clearest job. Low pointing and showing at 12 months, and again at 24 months, flagged the autism group.

The same scores also ruled out simple language delay, making them the strongest early red flags.

Gordon et al. (2015) saw the same pattern in younger, high-risk siblings. They added that fewer gestures at 13 months forecast lower language at 20 months, a direct echo of Carly’s finding.

Capelli et al. (2025) gives a warning: blind 12-month-olds also point less. Before you label a baby, check vision first.

McGarty et al. (2018) widens the lens. Day-care staff can spot the same six social-communication gaps Carly tracked, proving the signs show up outside the home.

When you screen, watch gestures first. A baby who does not point or show by 12 months needs follow-up, not a wait-and-see plan. Pair the CDI or CSBS with a quick vision check to avoid false flags. Share the day-care version with preschool teams so red flags are caught where kids play, not just where they get vaccines.