Pre-autism: Advancing early identification and intervention in autism

Table 1 The challenges that enface the early diagnosis and intervention in autism spectrum disorder

Challenge	Description
Lack of awareness	Limited knowledge among healthcare providers and the public about early signs of autism hinders timely diagnosis and intervention
Cultural and linguistic barriers	Barriers to access to culturally and linguistically appropriate resources for diverse communities impact early detection efforts
Complexity of ASD Presentation	The diverse presentation of ASD, ranging from clear signs to subtle characteristics, complicates diagnosis
Absence of screening programs	Lack of established and standardized screening programs specifically for pre-autism diagnosis
Overreliance on unproven biomarkers	Caution against over-reliance on biomarkers that have yet to be validated for early ASD detection, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive evaluations
Heterogeneity of ASD	The variability of ASD presentations necessitates individualized screening and diagnostic approaches that may not be widely available
Limited access to specialized services	Restricted access to specialized services and interventions leads to delayed recognition and intervention, particularly in underserved communities
Challenges in advancing early identification	The complex nature of ASD and barriers in screening development make it challenging to improve early identification and intervention strategies

ASD: Autism spectrum disorder.

Table 2 The key areas that need to be addressed to enhance research on pre-autism and early intervention in autism spectrum disorder

Key area	Action to be taken
Increase awareness	Implement comprehensive education and training programs about early signs of autism for healthcare providers, educators, and the public
Develop culturally sensitive resources	Create and distribute culturally and linguistically appropriate resources to ensure diverse communities can access relevant services
Establish screening programs	Develop and implement standardized screening programs for pre-autism diagnosis to enable early identification and intervention
Research on biomarkers	Continue research to validate biomarkers for early ASD detection while avoiding over-reliance on unproven markers in clinical practice
Individualized screening approaches	Promote individualized screening and diagnostic methods to account for the diverse presentations of ASD and meet individual needs
Improve access to services	Enhance access to specialized services and interventions, particularly in underserved populations, to reduce disparities in early detection
Collaborative efforts	Foster collaboration between healthcare providers, researchers, and technology developers to create innovative screening tools

ASD: Autism spectrum disorder.