Autism rates are rising. According to the CDC, 1 in 31 U.S. children is now diagnosed with autism. And a new study shows we can detect early signs by 12 months old.

But here’s what hit me as a mom — and a former producer of digital health events:👉 Many of the signs flagged in early autism research…

…also show up in highly sensitive children.

👶 Early Clues Early Sensory Clues We’re Missing

The new study points to signs like:

• Sensory reactivity
• Motor delays
• Less eye contact

If you’ve ever raised a highly sensitive child, these probably feel familiar.

These aren’t just diagnostic checkboxes. They’re early signals from the nervous system.

But here’s the problem:
While autism is becoming more recognized, high sensitivity is still flying under the radar.And yet, up to 20–30% of all children are believed to be highly sensitive.

That’s a massive group — one we aren’t building tech for.

💭 Why Parents Are Left Guessing and Doubting

What happens when a baby shows early signs — but doesn’t meet the criteria for autism?

Most parents are told:

“Let’s wait and see.”
“They’ll grow out of it.”
“You’re overthinking it.”

So they’re left guessing. Searching. Doubting themselves.

🧠 The result? Months — or even years — of:

• Google rabbit holes
• Mixed messages from doctors
• Guilt
• Anxiety
• A constant feeling of “something is off”

And still, no real tools to help them.

💡 It’s Time for Health Tech to Catch Up to the Real Needs of Families

It’s time for digital health and parenting tech to think bigger.

Not just about early detection for autism… But about early awareness for all kids with sensory sensitivities.

Let’s imagine what that could look like:

📱 Home-based detection tools
To help parents track early sensory reactions from infancy.

🤖 AI-powered insights
That spot patterns and compare developmental benchmarks over time.

🧭 Smart decision trees
To help parents know when to bring concerns to their pediatrician.🤝 Reassuring platforms
That support rather than scare.

Because not every outlier = autism.

🚀 A Huge Innovation Opportunity for Tech and Parenting Tools

We need to stop waiting until diagnosis.

We need to start supporting parents sooner. With better tools. Smarter tech. And more compassion.

Whether a child is autistic, highly sensitive, or somewhere in between — they deserve early understanding. So do their parents.

This is the white space that health tech innovators should be paying attention to.

💬 Why the Smartest Innovators Are Paying Attention to Sensory Needs

If you’re creating tech for families, pediatrics, or neurodiverse support — this is your moment.

There are millions of highly sensitive, autistic and sensory-sensitive children who need earlier support.
Let’s stop missing them.

📩 Want to talk or collaborate? Reach out — I’m building bridges between moms, experts, and businesses.