No, it is not possible to diagnose autism at 1 year of age. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex, lifelong developmental disorder that typically begins to manifest in children before the age of 3. Due to the complexity of this condition, it is difficult to diagnose before the age of 3, and even then, a definitive diagnosis may not be possible until later in life.
At 1 year of age, some behaviors commonly associated with autism may be present, such as lack of eye contact, lack of responding to one’s name, lack of interest in social interaction, and limited or nonverbal communication. However, these behaviors are also common in typical development and may not necessarily indicate autism. A diagnosis of autism requires further assessment and observation that cannot be completed at such a young age.
In order to diagnose autism at an early age, a multidisciplinary team of professionals including psychologists, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, and others must collaborate in order to develop a comprehensive evaluation. This evaluation must be conducted over a period of time in order to track the development of the child.
In addition to this evaluation, genetic testing, neurological imaging, and other tests may be necessary in order to determine a definitive diagnosis of autism. These tests are not usually available to children under the age of 3, and so a definitive diagnosis of autism is not possible at 1 year of age.
Overall, it is not possible to diagnose autism at 1 year of age. The complex nature of autism requires a comprehensive evaluation and further testing in order to make a definitive diagnosis.