Q: When is the usual onset of symptoms?

A: The symptoms of autism are usually measurable by 18 months of age, although parents and experts in autism treatment can usually detect symptoms before this time. Formal diagnoses can be made by age two, but are usually made between ages two and three, when the child shows delays in language development.

Recent studies show that at least 20 percent of children with autism experienced a “regression,” as reported by their parents. These children have a mostly normal development followed by a loss of social and communication skills. There is little information, however, about trends in such regression, such as age of onset, severity, or possible triggers.

To learn more about regression in autism, the CPEA Network, with additional funding from the CDC, is conducting research on autism, regression, and the MMR vaccine. CPEA scientists will compare vaccination records of three groups of people: those who had autism at birth, those who regressed into autism after seemingly normal development, and those who do not have autism. Through this comparison, the scientists hope to determine if regressive autism might be a definable subgroup of ASD, and if the MMR vaccine plays any role in the onset of symptoms in that subgroup.

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