Introduction:

Among the early-onset disorders, autism spectrum disorders are the most complex in their diagnosis. Many factors hinder this process. The world is looking for diagnostic alternatives for early identification and intervention. Symptoms and warning signs occur early in many cases and are identified retrospectively.

Objective:

To identify in the reviewed studies, the symptoms and early signs to which the greatest reference is made, as well as the moment of development in which they manifest.

Methods:

A narrative bibliographic review was carried out from January 2020 to December 2021, through a search in bibliographic databases such as PubMed, Lilacs, Google Scholar, Cumed. Descriptors were used in English and Spanish.

Analysis and synthesis of the information:

Arguments related to the main symptoms of early-onset in autism spectrum disorders, as well as the time of development in which they manifest are showed. The clinical method was the main diagnostic tool.

Conclusions:

There are early signs and symptoms that alert on the presence of alterations in childhood neurodevelopment. Sleep disturbances, language acquisition, lack of emotional response and gastrointestinal disorders were the most frequently reported. Before 15 months these alterations usually occur and it is not until after 4 or 5 years that diagnostic conclusions are reached.

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