Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder: The First Signs Identified by Algerian Parents

Abstract

Early detection and identification of the first signs of autism play an important role in the implementation of support projects and appropriate interventions. Our study aims, on the one hand, to study the variations of the age of detection of the first signs of autism by the parents and, on the other hand, to explore the nature of these signs. It also seeks to verify whether the age of detection of early signs depends on certain characteristics such as the socioeconomic level of the parents. To do this, an analysis of the data collected as part of a prospective study of a population of 120 children was carried out. The results obtained indicate that the average age of identification of the first signs is around 19 months; and that the most reported signs relate to the area of ​​verbal communication. However, no significant relationship was found between the age of the detection of the first sign and the economic level of the parents.