Summary: New research suggests that signs of autism can sometimes be detected much earlier than the typical diagnostic age of 3 to 5 years. A longitudinal study from the University of Missouri’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment found that parent-reported behaviors at 9 months—such as fussiness, trouble adapting to new situations, sleep difficulties, and delays in developmental milestones—were associated with indicators of autism likelihood when those same infants were screened at 12 months.
These findings highlight the value of caregiver observations as an early signal of autism risk, opening the possibility of earlier screening and timely intervention. The research team also notes potential applications for integrating these behavioral markers into pediatric screening practices and future algorithmic tools that analyze medical records to flag infants who may benefit from evaluation and early supports.
Key Facts:
- Early indicators: Fussiness, difficulty sleeping, and poor adaptability at 9 months were linked to higher autism‑screening scores at 12 months.
- Caregiver insight matters: Parents’ reports of temperament and developmental milestones provided meaningful early information about infant development.
- Screening and intervention potential: The results point toward earlier identification and intervention and inform future approaches to screening in pediatric care, including possible use of machine learning with electronic health records.
Source: University of Missouri Columbia
Autism is most commonly diagnosed between ages 3 and 5, but researchers at the University of Missouri are investigating whether reliable early markers appear within the first year of life.
In the initial report from an ongoing birth cohort study, researchers Erin Andres and Stephen Sheinkopf analyzed caregiver responses about infant temperament and development at 9 months, then compared those responses with autism‑focused screening results at 12 months. The goal was to determine whether parent-reported behavior in infancy could serve as an early indicator of autism likelihood and help guide earlier monitoring or intervention.
For the study, parents of 9‑month‑old infants completed the Survey of Well‑Being of Young Children (SWYC), reporting on temperament and adaptability—questions about frequent crying, irritability, difficulty calming down, and challenges adjusting to new environments. At 12 months, the same caregivers completed the First Year Inventory‑Lite (FYI‑Lite), an autism‑specific parent report that screens communication, sensory sensitivities, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. The FYI‑Lite assesses responses to social cues such as name recognition and to sensory input like loud household noises.
Sheinkopf, the study’s principal investigator and a professor of pediatrics, summarized the core finding: infants whose caregivers reported greater fussiness, poorer adaptability, sleep problems, or delays in developmental milestones at 9 months were more likely to show elevated autism‑related screening scores at 12 months.
While these early indicators do not equate to a formal diagnosis, they can identify infants who may benefit from closer developmental monitoring and early support services. Early intervention can target language development and social skills, helping children enter preschool better prepared and improving longer‑term outcomes.
The research team continues to collect comprehensive data during infants’ first year, including detailed measures of crying and behavioral responses. Nevertheless, the study emphasizes that parent observations provide a practical, scalable source of information that clinicians can use alongside other measures.
“Parents are often the first to notice when something feels different about their child,” Sheinkopf said. “Their insights are valuable, and our work aims to develop better ways to measure and interpret what caregivers notice.”
Erin Andres, a postdoctoral fellow and co‑author, notes that many parents welcome research focused on early infant behaviors. Families often discuss concerns about crying patterns or calming difficulties with pediatricians, and caregivers appreciate research that validates their observations and explores how those observations might predict developmental trajectories.
Andres also described a personal connection: a family history of dyslexia makes early language milestones especially relevant to her work. Identifying infants who could benefit from early language supports is one important application of this research.
About this autism research news
Author: Brian Consiglio
Source: University of Missouri Columbia
Contact: Brian Consiglio – University of Missouri Columbia
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Closed access. “Caregiver report of infant behavior associated with autism likelihood in first year of life” by Erin Andres et al., published in Nature (DOI: 10.1038/s41390-025-03867-8).
Abstract
Caregiver report of infant behavior associated with autism likelihood in first year of life
Background
Detecting early behavioral indicators of autism in infancy could improve surveillance and identify targets for intervention during the first year of life. This study examines whether common parent‑reported measures of temperament and development relate to later autism‑specific screening outcomes in a general population birth cohort.
Methods
The report analyzes data from a prospective general population birth cohort. Mothers completed the Survey of Well‑Being of Young Children (SWYC) at 9 months to capture general developmental surveillance and temperament, and the First Year Inventory‑Lite (FYI‑Lite) at 12 months to capture autism‑specific behaviors. Mothers also completed the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ) to assess subclinical autism characteristics in caregivers.
Results
Among 332 infants (168 males), maternal reports at 9 months indicating difficult temperament, poor adaptability, sleep problems, and delays in developmental milestones correlated with higher scores on the 12‑month FYI‑Lite. Regression models showed independent associations between infant temperament and milestone measures at 9 months and autism‑related scores at 12 months, after accounting for maternal BAPQ scores and education.
Conclusions
Maternal reports of temperament and developmental milestones at 9 months were associated with parent‑reported early indicators of autism likelihood at 12 months in a general birth cohort. Continued follow‑up of this cohort is needed to determine how these early indicators relate to formal diagnostic outcomes later in childhood.
Impact
- Developing scalable measures of infant behavior—both general and autism‑specific—may identify early intervention targets during the first year of life.
- This prospective, general population approach complements studies that focus on higher‑risk groups, offering insight into early indicators applicable to the broader population.
- The study highlights that maternal reports of infant temperament at 9 months predicted higher scores on a 12‑month autism screener and underscores the importance of considering caregiver characteristics when interpreting parent‑reported screening tools.