Autism Warning Signs

Autism affects as many as one out of every 150 people living in the United States. It can be hard to diagnose in young children since children develop at different rates, but there are warning signs and symptoms parents should be aware of when monitoring their child's development.

Features

• According to NIH, autism is classified by three behaviors: difficulty with social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors or obsessive interests.

Time Frame

• Autism can be diagnosed as early as 18 months, but is usually diagnosed between the ages of two and three years old.

Symptoms

• In babies, no babbling, poor eye contact and no smiling are early warning signs of autism. Symptoms of autism in toddlers includes the inability to make friends or interact with peers, limited use of language and organizing toys rather than playing with them.

Identification

• Doctors identify autism by observing the child's behavior to see if he exhibits behaviors and characteristics of autism.

Types

• There are several types of autism, ranging from mild to severe, including Asperger's Disorder and Kanner's Syndrome.