Detection and identification of warning signs of autism spectrum disorder: instruments and strategies for its application

The progressive advance in the knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) justifies the need for early detection that enables intensive intervention in the first years of life in case the brain neuroplasticity is optimal. Advancing the screening age implies assuming the risk of detecting a greater number of false positives—children who have a nonsignificant delay or who do not have an ASD—therefore, the ethical implications of this process must be taken into account. Despite this, the noninvasive intervention carried out with the detected cases justifies the efforts to acquire tools that advance the screening time to the first months of life. It is also recommended to attend to the emotional impact of the family as a complement to this detection of symptoms in children, which will ensure a better adaptation of the family to the intervention needs.