Clinical and sociodemographic factors related to the timing of autism diagnosis in an Italian cohort of children

The final sample included 150 children (mean age: 43.71 ± 13.6 months; 123 males, 27 females). Among clinical variables, cognitive and developmental differences and parental recognition of early communication variations were linked to earlier diagnosis, while a distinct emotional-behavioral profile was associated with later diagnosis. Regarding sociodemographic factors, being a first-born child and higher parental stress were correlated with delayed diagnosis. Parental age and education showed no significant associations. Only cognitive and developmental profiles, along with early symptom recognition (ADI-D), emerged as the strongest predictors of early diagnosis. Conclusions: These results emphasize the critical need to enhance early identification of autism and to minimize the adverse effects associated with delayed diagnosis. They also underline the clinical relevance of caregiver education-particularly for first-time parents-as a strategy to facilitate timely recognition and intervention.