10 Missed Clues of Autism in Childhood That Finally Make Sense

Can I tell you something?
When I hear childhood stories like being called “ziddi” or how your mom ran behind you with roti and sabzi because you would only eat curd rice or plain paratha it makes me pause. We often laugh at these stories, but for some children, these patterns are not just quirks. They might be hidden signs of something deeper.

This blog is for parents. Especially those who’ve heard people dismiss their concerns with lines like, “Bachcha hai, thoda ziddi toh hoga hi,” or “Sab theek ho jaayega, abhi chhota hai.” I know how confusing it is when you sense something is different about your child, but society brushes it aside. That in-between space—where your instincts say one thing and others say another—is often the hardest.

The purpose of this blog is not to label your child, but to create awareness. To shine light on the small, often-missed signs of autism in early years. Because the sooner we understand, the sooner we can support. Many children with autistic traits go unnoticed simply because their behaviors are mistaken for stubbornness, shyness, or “just being different.”

So if you’ve ever felt your child’s behaviors don’t add up—or if you’ve been made to doubt your own concerns read on. This piece is here to give you clarity, reassurance, and a new lens to look through.

Because the sad truth is, many autistic children in India grow up misunderstood. Their pain gets dismissed, their sensitivities get ridiculed, and their struggles are treated as drama or disobedience. Years later, when the puzzle pieces finally come together, parents often feel guilty: “Why didn’t we see it sooner?”

I don’t want you to carry that guilt. This isn’t about blame, it’s about awareness. About realising that what society wrote off as laziness, stubbornness, or “bad upbringing,” might have been your child’s brain asking for help.

So, through this blog, let’s walk through some of those hidden signs. Let’s reframe the story so instead of saying “Arre, ye bachcha ajeeb hai”, we start saying “Wait, maybe there’s more going on here.”

Childhood Signs We Usually Dismiss in India

1. Food fussiness (a.k.a. “Bahut nakhre karta hai!”)
   Every Indian child is scolded for being choosy with food. But imagine if it wasn’t just stubbornness. For some kids, it’s sensory. Like the dal ka smell makes them gag, or the mushy texture of bhindi feels unbearable. Research shows that almost 89% of autistic kids have food challenges. So that child who only ate Maggi or bread wasn’t “spoiled”—their brain just couldn’t process certain tastes or textures.
2. Hating noise (a.k.a. “Kya nautanki hai, sabko toh maza aata hai!”)
   Think about Diwali crackers, Ganpati visarjan dhols, or even that one uncle who shouted into the mic at weddings. Most kids jumped in excitement, but you maybe covered your ears, cried, or run inside. That wasn’t drama—it was sensory overload.
3. Meltdowns mistaken for drama.
   In school, when a teacher shouted or homework felt overwhelming, you might have broken down crying. And people said, “Arre, itna bada ho gaya, still crying like a baby.” But autistic kids’ nervous systems get overloaded quickly. Meltdowns aren’t drama; they’re genuine distress.
4. Social quirks in school.
   Maybe you didn’t have a big gang. You had one best friend, and if that friend was absent, you sat alone. Or you copied how others behaved so you wouldn’t be left out. In India, that gets labelled as “shy” or “introvert,” but it could actually be masking—pretending to be “normal” to fit in.
5. Obsessions and routines.
   Remember how you lined up cricket cards, or refused to change your timetable of study, or got upset if someone shifted your toys? Parents laughed and called it “weird habits.” But those routines were your way of feeling safe and in control.

And there are many others—late speech (being teased for “bolne mein late”), handwriting issues (“doctor’s handwriting hai kya?”), or not making eye contact with elders (“dekho toh, aankh mila ke baat karo”). In Indian homes, these become points of scolding or jokes. But actually, they’re red flags we miss.

Why This Matters for You

Because maybe you’ve carried those same memories.

• Being forced to eat what you couldn’t handle.
• Relatives saying “yeh bachcha normal nahi lagta.”
• Teachers are labelling you “lazy” when you just processed information differently.

The Takeaway

Looking back at childhood through this lens is healing. It helps you connect the dots and understand:

• That stubborn child wasn’t difficult—they were sensitive.
• That quiet student wasn’t anti-social—they were overwhelmed.
• That picky eater wasn’t pampered—they were struggling with sensory overload.

If any of these challenges feel familiar for your child, know that you’re not alone. Our team is here to help you understand what’s going on and create a personalized approach that truly supports your child. You can schedule a visit with us either at the clinic or online, whichever feels easiest for you.