RESUMOOs Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo (TEA) costumam comprometer o funcionamento adaptativo e desenvolvimento psicossocial na infância. O objetivo deste estudo foi buscar associações entre: sinais precoces dos TEA, falhas na atenção compartilhada-AC e atrasos de desenvolvimento. Participaram do estudo 92 crianças (16-24 meses) de cinco creches de Barueri-SP. Instrumentos utilizados: Development Screening Test-DENVER-II (desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor), Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-M-CHAT (sinais precoces de TEA), Pictorial Infant Communication Scales-PICS(comunicação social). Identificou-se 28,3% de atrasos no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor. Cinco crianças apresentaram sinais precoces dos TEA; todas falharam nas provas de AC (PICS). Nas crianças que apresentaram sinais indicativos de TEA, os déficits mais comuns foram relacionados à atenção compartilhada, área que deve ser privilegiada em avaliações precoces.

ABSTRACTThe Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) usually impair adaptive functioning and psychosocial development in childhood. The purpose of this study was to investigate associations among early signs of ASD, failures in joint attention (JA) and developmental delays. Participants were 92 children (16-24 months of age) from five day-care centers in Barueri-SP. Assessment instruments used: Development Screening Test-DENVER-II (child development); Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-M-CHAT (screening for ASD); Pictorial Infant Communication Scales-PICS (social communication). Developmental delays were observed in 28.3% of the children. Five children showed early signs of ASD, all with deficits in joint attention. Since among children with early signs of ASD, the most common deficits were related to joint attention, this field should be privileged in early evaluations.