The department’s deputy director-general, Panpimon Wipulakorn, urged parents to bring their children to an autism-screening service at Well Child Clinic branches nationwide. The service is for children aged at least 18 months.

Detecting autism before a child is two years old can help them develop better and attend school, Panpimon said.

The symptoms of autism include social-interaction and communication difficulties (no eye contact, no talking and no finger pointing).