Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? 0.77% global pooled, ages 3–18; India community estimates ~0.09–0.11%
Is it more common among children? Core diagnostic population
Are children at higher risk? Yes — developmental condition
How much higher is the risk? Global pooled 0.77%
How often can it be missed? Moderate, especially subtler presentations
Does it show up differently among children? Strong Yes
How might it look different? Language/social-communication differences, restricted interests, sensory sensitivities, play/peer differences
What commonly occurs alongside it? ADHD; intellectual disability; epilepsy; anxiety
What can it be confused with? Language disorder; intellectual disability; ADHD; hearing impairment; social communication disorder
Common screening tool Age-appropriate autism screener
Separate screening tool for children M-CHAT-R/F for toddlers; CAST/SRS-2 for older children
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