For the autistic child, time matters

He could easily pass as a good-natured child who needs little attention. But Filipek, a neurologist, sees something else, behaviors "that make the hair on the back of my neck stand up." Most toddlers will carry a toy in only one hand -- this child clutched a toy in each fist when entering the room. And children this age typically will scope out a room full of strangers warily, sticking close to Mom or Dad for reassurance.

The scene is familiar to Filipek. At the end of a 90-minute exam she tells the child's parents that their son has autism. Filipek pulls her chair close to the couple, first-time parents in their 30s, and leans toward them before she continues. "The fact that you're here with him, this young, is wonderful."

It is balm intended to soothe the harsh news. And Filipek's encouragement is sincere. She is among a growing number of child development experts who say that autism often can be identified much younger than is typically done today, and that early treatment can alter, sometimes dramatically, the course of the brain disease that affects about one in 500 U.S. children.

Geraldine Dawson, director of the Autism Center at the University of Washington's Center on Human Development and Disability, says doctors now can reliably diagnose autism by age 2 and researchers are developing screening tools to identify kids as young as 18 months. "The long-range goal," she says, "is to be able to detect autism at birth or in very early infancy."

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Cases on the rise

Early recognition is one of the most hopeful developments in the sobering world of autism, a neurological disorder in which people have difficulty communicating and interacting socially with others. Autistic children often speak little, ignore others and display repetitive behavior, such as spinning in circles or focusing on one object for hours. They may excel at something in detail, such as spelling or playing a musical instrument, but become overwhelmed when trying to navigate the world at large. The disorder is also known as "autism spectrum disorder," reflecting the wide range in severity of cases and the various subtypes of autism, such as Asperger's disorder and pervasive developmental disorder.