How healthcare workers can detect autism

Expert states that with relation to autism, behavioural therapy comprised major part of early intervention along with some medications which can help with development of autistic children for a better future

Healthcare workers can enable early detection of autism by identifying red flags specific to autism during routine immunisation, a paediatric neurologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences has stated.

Taking to social media platform X, Dr Sheffali Gulati, Professor and faculty-in-charge at the Child Neurology Division, Department of Pediatrics at AIIMS Delhi, explained what autism is and how it can be identified early. "Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by social deficits and qualitative impairment in communication, along with some fixed interests and behaviour," Gulati said.

She noted that the condition comes with "some fixed patterns of interest, and there may be sensory issues within them".