Early Signs of Autism Spectrum at 18–24 Months

If your toddler isn't pointing, waving or sharing little glances with you yet, it's natural to wonder — and gently noticing now is one of the kindest things you can do.

In short

Between 18 and 24 months, the early signs people associate with autism are mostly about how a child connects and communicates — sharing attention, gestures, eye contact, responding to their name, and first words. A single difference on its own usually means little; it's the pattern over time that matters. If several signs appear together, or your gut says something is different, a friendly developmental check helps you understand what your child needs — many toddlers simply need a little extra support to bloom.

Signs worth gently noticing

Around this age, you might watch for a cluster of these:

• Limited shared attention — rarely pointing to show you something interesting, or not following your point or gaze ("look at that!").
• Few social gestures — not waving bye-bye, clapping, shaking head or reaching up to be picked up.
• Name response — often not turning when you call their name, even when hearing is fine.
• Eye contact and back-and-forth — fleeting eye contact, or less of the playful to-and-fro of smiles, sounds and faces.
• Communication — very few or no single words by 18 months, or words/babble that have faded.
• Play and interests — lining up or spinning objects rather than pretend play (feeding a doll, talking on a toy phone); intense focus on one thing.
• Sensory and routine — strong reactions to sounds, textures or lights, repetitive movements (hand-flapping, toe-walking), or big distress at small changes.

None of these confirm autism — many are seen in toddlers who are simply developing at their own pace. What guides a check is the overall pattern, especially around social connection and communication.

When to seek a check

Don't wait-and-see if you notice several of the above together, if skills your child once had have disappeared, or if your instinct is nudging you. A hearing check is sensible first, since hearing differences can look similar. Reaching out early isn't about labels — it's about giving your toddler the best possible window to grow, when their brain is most adaptable.

The Pinnacle way

AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an online checklist or app. Our team looks gently and holistically at how your child connects, communicates and plays, then builds support that fits your family. Explore how Pinnacle supports families, the way speech therapy grows early communication, and what the AbilityScore® is and how it is calculated.

Trusted sources

CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." developmental milestones for 18–24 months; American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on developmental and autism screening in toddlers; ASHA resources on early social communication and play.

Next step — If several of these signs feel familiar, book a warm developmental check with a Pinnacle clinician — early understanding helps your child bloom.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.