Early infantile autism

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Early infantile autism is a term used to describe a particular developmental trajectory of autism, first described by Leo Kanner in 1943. In contrast with regressive autism, where the child appears to develop normally until around 18 to 24 months of age, the child with early infantile (or "non-regressive") autism never experiences typical neurological development. Certain autistic symptoms are present from birth, but the most obvious symptoms are only detectable at an age when the child would be expected to start speaking. While the autism spectrum covers a wide range of abilities and difficulties, most children with autism will ultimately develop very limited or delayed speech.

It is currently unknown whether there are epidemiological differences between regressive and non-regressive autism, although on the surface they appear indistinguishable once their characteristics are fully manifested. Current research is looking at genetic, environmental, immunological, and other factors that may affect the development of autism, as well as how they may differ between regressive and non-regressive cases.