Pune: Autism starts quietly, without any dramatic signs — usually the earliest indicators emerging in the first two years of a child’s birth. World Autism Awareness Day observed on April 2 is an effort to create awareness about the condition and that parents should respond to signs and seek early help.Senior occupational therapist and founder-director of Walnut Clinics Dr Chanchal Agrawal said children with the condition often fail to respond to their name, avoid eye contact, prefer isolation, repeat certain actions, get distressed or show unusual sensory reactions to sounds, textures and movement. “Such children, especially with a simple speech delay, should not be dismissed as temperamental or stubborn. In many, the earliest red flags are poor attention, limited reciprocity or difficulty to engage meaningfully,” she said.A 2021 randomised clinical trial published in JAMA Pediatrics found that preemptive intervention in infants with early signs of autism reduced symptom severity across early childhood, while lowering the odds of a diagnosis at age 3. A 2021 study published in the Indian Journal of Paediatrics estimated prevalence of autism in India as 1 in 68 children. The study said boys are more commonly prone than girls — with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 3:1.When Ishan (name changed) went to a child development clinic, he needed help across the full chain of development. A classroom was not just a classroom for him. It was noise, movement, shifting expectations, bright lights, unfamiliar transitions and a steady stream of sensory information his brain could not always organise in time. Communication was hard and did not always match his needs, feelings or wants.At the clinic, he learnt to process sensory input better, build functional independence and develop social communication. Occupational therapy worked on body awareness, balance, movement and navigating spaces. Speech and language therapy focused on helping him express his needs, make choices, understand turn-taking and move from behaviour-driven distress to proper communication.The progress happened over years with therapy alongside structured practice in school and supported peer interactions. A shadow teacher helped him for long. Today, Ishan attends school without a shadow teacher. He returns to the clinic only occasionally for what his therapists call upgrades — fine-tuning skills as his world expands.Specialists said autism was not only about speech. It affected multiple developmental domains including attention, play, sensory regulation, emotional flexibility and participation in daily routines.Occupational therapist and co-founder of Apricot Clinics Dr Yash Gupta said, “Timely intervention improves not just language, but builds attention, shared engagement and emotional regulation as also better participation in routines. The goal is to enhance overall functioning and confidence. Parents are the first to sense when something is different — and those instincts matter.”Speech-language pathologist Deepali Maheshwari said, “It is important not to wait if a child is not responding socially or communicating meaningfully. Early guidance gives clarity to families and a stronger chance at progress to children.”Experts said therapy was most effective when tailored to a child and supported at home, school and social settings.Agrawal said sensory-processing issues are often missed in children who may not appear severely affected. “Many children struggle because what they see or hear isn’t registered accurately by the brain. Often it’s a mild processing issue that can be identified with a simple assessment and corrected early. We wish more parents came in for timely testing — because early support leads to happier, more confident and successful children.“The message is simple for parents — if a child seems overwhelmed, hyperactive, withdrawn or hard to settle, pause before calling it a behavioural problem. Sometimes, it is a child asking for understanding in the only way they can.
