Quote:
Originally Posted by PsychoPhil
I'm not saying one can only get diagnosed with autism until the age of 3. Symptoms are often overlooked and some parents just can't accept something may be wrong with their precious bundles. But for it to be autism, there would have been symptoms by the age of 3, even if no one noticed.
For an autism diagnosis it's therefore very helpful to have some early evidence, such as a parent remembering quirks, absence of pretend play, or maybe even film and photographic evidence.
When do children usually show symptoms of autism? | NICHD - Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
"Many children show symptoms of autism by 12 months to 18 months of age or earlier." |
PsychoPill is right. You are born with autism; it isn't something you develop. Symptoms are evident in early childhood, including in infancy. It's also a complex disorder (if you want to call it a "disorder")--simply having social issues doesn't make you autistic. This is a common misunderstanding. If you really want to find out if you're autistic or not, see a behavior analyst who specializes in autism diagnoses. It's a lengthy process; it takes weeks. It's easy to self-diagnose via books and online questionnaires, etc., but you need a professional to actually make a correct diagnosis.