{"id":50552,"date":"2026-06-22T12:47:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T07:17:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianbusinessline.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/22\/is-your-child-developing-normally-early-signs-of-autism-adhd-and-learning-disabilities-when-to-see-a-child-psychologist\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T12:47:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T07:17:18","slug":"is-your-child-developing-normally-early-signs-of-autism-adhd-and-learning-disabilities-when-to-see-a-child-psychologist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianbusinessline.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/22\/is-your-child-developing-normally-early-signs-of-autism-adhd-and-learning-disabilities-when-to-see-a-child-psychologist\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your Child Developing Normally? Early Signs of Autism, ADHD and Learning Disabilities \u2014 When to See a Child Psychologist"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 22:<\/strong> Every year, thousands of Indian families arrive at child development clinics with the same quiet regret: \u201cWe noticed something was different, but we waited.\u201d<\/p>\n

Early identification of neurodevelopmental conditions \u2014\u00a0Autism Spectrum Disorder\u00a0(ASD),\u00a0Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder\u00a0(ADHD), and Learning Disabilities (LD) \u2014 is one of the most\u00a0important steps a family can take. Yet in India, the average age of diagnosis remains years behind what research recommends. Children lose critical developmental time not because their families did not care \u2014 but because no one told them what to look for.<\/p>\n

Dr. Vini\u00a0<\/u>Jhariya<\/u><\/a>,\u00a0Child and Clinical Psychologist<\/u><\/a>\u00a0(RCI Registered) and founder of\u00a0Urjasvini<\/u>\u00a0Child Development Centre<\/u><\/a>, Indore, has worked with over 5,000 children and families across more than a decade of clinical practice. A TEDx speaker, published author, and co-author in peer-reviewed journals, she is among Central India\u2019s most recognised voices in child psychology. Her message to parents is clear:\u00a0behaviour is not the problem \u2014 behaviour is communication. And early communication must be heard.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In India, neurodevelopmental conditions are frequently misread. A child with autism is called \u201cantisocial.\u201d A child with ADHD is labelled \u201cnaughty.\u201d A child with a learning disability is told they are \u201cnot trying\u201d \u2014 when in reality, they are working harder than anyone around them can see. Fear of stigma, limited access to specialists outside major cities, and the hope that things will settle on their own all contribute to delayed diagnosis. The result: children who could have thrived with early support spend their most formative years struggling in silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cWaiting for a child to outgrow it is the most common and the\u00a0<\/strong>most costly<\/strong>\u00a0mistake,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0observes\u00a0Dr.\u00a0<\/u>Jhariya<\/u><\/a>. \u201cWhat looks like stubbornness or bad behaviour is almost always a child trying to cope with a world that isn\u2019t yet designed for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

A young child\u2019s brain is at its most adaptable in the first five years of life. Targeted support during this window does not just manage symptoms \u2014 it changes a child\u2019s developmental trajectory. Children identified early show significantly better outcomes in communication, learning, social skills, and independence compared to those identified late. Early intervention is most effective before age 6, which means the time to act is always sooner than it feels.<\/p>\n

The signs below are observational starting points \u2014<\/strong>\u00a0not a diagnostic checklist. No two children present identically. Some signs may be obvious; others subtle or mixed with typical childhood behaviour. This list does not mean your child has a condition. It means you now know what to watch for.<\/p>\n

Signs of Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (ASD)<\/strong>\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Autism Spectrum Disorder\u00a0affects how a child communicates, connects with others, and responds to the world around them. Signs often appear before age two, though they may become more visible as social demands grow.<\/p>\n