THE CLASSROOM AS THE FIRST FILTER: EARLY DETECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC DELAYS OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IN MEXICO
Abstract
This study examines the factors influencing the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a sample of 67 children from Veracruz, Mexico. The analysis focused on the age at which the first symptoms were detected, the key agents involved in the identification process, and the time elapsed until diagnostic confirmation. Findings revealed an average delay of 4.35 years between the initial suspicion and the formal diagnosis. Preschool teachers were the primary identifiers of early warning signs (29.49%), followed by parents and physicians (27.86% each). The most commonly reported symptoms were language impairments (29.14%), behavioral problems (17.72%), and lack of eye contact (16.18%). These results highlight the urgent need to implement training strategies for educators and to strengthen screening protocols within the healthcare system, in order to reduce the diagnostic gap and promote early intervention, thereby improving the prognosis and quality of life of children with ASD and their families.
Keywords: Childhood autism; early diagnosis; early intervention; autism spectrum disorder.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Anllely Grizett Gutiérrez Rodríguez, Salvador Zepeda Esquivel, Nictie Laurean Quiroga, Jorge Manzo Denes
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