Autism spectrum disorders in infancy and toddlerhood: a review of the evidence on early signs, early identification tools, and early diagnosis.
Published May 9, 2026
A 2009 evidence review of early autism signs and identification tools in infancy and toddlerhood; it is dated and not diagnostic guidance.
This 2009 review summarizes research on early signs of autism, identification tools, and early diagnosis in infancy and toddlerhood.
It is a dated evidence review. It does not diagnose an individual child, prove that a screening tool is accurate in every setting, or establish that identification alone determines outcomes. Current diagnostic practice and research have evolved since publication.
Families with developmental concerns can discuss them with an appropriately qualified health professional; early identification should lead to individualized support, not assumptions about a child.
Source: “Autism Spectrum Disorders in Infancy and Toddlerhood: A Review of the Evidence on Early Signs, Early Identification Tools, and Early Diagnosis.” 2009. PubMed PMID: 19823139.
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