Is my child autistic? The new-age panic that's robbing kids of just being kids

India Today

20 hours ago

Little Neel is just 2 years old. Last week, he started repeating one word nonstop, "car car car" and avoided eye contact during dinner. His mother, Kavita, watched him closely, panic rising in her chest."Is he stuck in that word? Why won't he look at me? Is he autistic?" By dawn, Kavita was exhausted, scrolling through symptom lists and booking a consultation even though she wasn't sure what she feared more: missing something or overstating it. In homes across India, parents of toddlers like Neel are experiencing this fear. A sentence repeated once or a pause that lasts too long becomes a potential red flag. But often, what's labelled worrying behaviour is just very young children being themselves.advertisementWHAT DATA TELLS US
How common is autism?The World Health Organization estimates about 1 in 100 children globally has autism Large-scale research in India puts the rate closer to 1 in 500 children diagnosed, though prevalence studies vary by methodology and region Accurate estimates for toddlers in India are limited.However, neurodevelopmental issues like autism account for roughly 1.6% of mental disorders in Indian adolescents (ages 13-17), per the National Mental Health Survey 2016 ARE MORE FAMILIES SEEKING HELP?A Chennai tertiary mental health center saw young people (ages 10-24) seeking help rise from 240 in 2017 to 437 in 2021-an increase of over 80% in five years That tally reflects general youth-not just autism-but it signals rising mental health concerns and demand for support.Meanwhile, the broader picture in India shows nearly 50 million children (ages 0-17) are estimated to suffer from mental disorders, but less than 1% are treated or receive professional helpWHY PARENTS OVERREACT AND WHY IT'S HARD TO LET GOSeveral factors feed this anxiety:Increased awareness-driven by social media, parenting blogs, and online videos-can blur the line between curiosity and clinical concern.Post-pandemic isolation and heightened screen use have disrupted early social development for many toddlers.Screening tools like the M CHAT may flag stammering or repetitive play-even in neurotypical children-and lead to over-caution .EXPERT & PARENT VOICESDr. Aditi Joshi, developmental pediatrician, Mumbai: "Toddlers often repeat sounds or avoid eye contact-not because of autism, but simply because they're exploring or feel shy. A few weeks of observation usually helps more than hours of worry.""Our daughter stopped using full sentences for a couple of days just monosyllables. We panicked. Three weeks later, she was back to talking clearly. I learned that kids sometimes take pauses especially when under stress from school routines." says Vikram Mehta, a father in BangaloreHOW TO SUPPORT WITHOUT PANICObserve over 4-6 weeks before seeking a professional visit many quirks resolve naturally with growth.Use trusted screening tools at 18 and 24? months not every pause needs alarm bells.If concerns persist, consult a pediatric developmental specialist, not just online forums.Get a second opinion before labelling a child; children internalise labels quickly.Seek early intervention when needed but don't pathologize normal toddler behaviour.advertisementCaring parents are doing their best amid rising expectations and an overwhelming amount of information. Yet normal toddler behaviors pauses, repetitions, occasional shyness are often mistaken for red flags.Let's choose patience over panic. A child repeating "car" may just be engrossed in rhythm, not on the spectrum. Fear can blur perspective. Our children need time, not diagnoses, to bloom into themselves. - Ends