Joint attention

Joint attention is two people sharing focus on the same object or event. Your child responds to it by following where you look or point. Your child starts it by pointing or showing you something to get your attention. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) describes it as looking back and forth between an object and a person, while the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association notes it may not involve eye contact in autism.

The AAP says delays in joint attention are found in most autistic children. A delay on its own isn't a diagnosis, but it's a good reason to ask about screening.

Say a bird lands outside, and your child points at it, then checks that you saw it too. Per the AAP, by about 12 months most children look where a parent points. By 15 months, most point to things they want, and by 18 months they point at things they find interesting. Pointing to ask for something isn't the same as pointing to share. The AAP notes autistic children often point because they want the parent to get the object.

• Whether it's a goal: Ask your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) whether your child's plan includes joint attention goals and how they'll be taught.
• What counts as sharing: Ask how the team will recognize shared attention if your child makes little eye contact.
• Screening first: If you've noticed fewer points or shows, ask whether a developmental screening makes sense.