| Autism has an array of "classic" symptoms, with | | | | understand what makes others feel pain or |
| a profound impairment of social interaction skills | | | | sorrow. |
| perhaps being the most familiar to the layperson. | | | | Tantrums and a strong resistance to any change |
| Parents often notice something is not quite right | | | | in his routine or environment are usually clues, too. |
| with their child, often as early as infancy. In most | | | | The child may have a certain set of rituals of his |
| cases, the signs are present within the first two | | | | own creation that mean nothing to others but |
| to three years of life, whereupon a diagnosis of | | | | have a high significance for him. |
| autism is made by medical professionals after a | | | | At times, the child may appear to be developing |
| thorough assessment and evaluation using a | | | | normally and then suddenly withdraws from social |
| checklist of items. | | | | interaction. There is an inability or lesser ability to |
| In infancy or during the toddler stage, the child | | | | make friends with other children. Moreover, |
| doesn't make spontaneous eye contact, or | | | | there's an impaired ability to strike up and sustain |
| actively avoids it. He shows a lack of response to | | | | a conversation with other people. |
| his own name when it's spoken and intuitive | | | | As a follow-on, imaginative and socially |
| reactions to social stimuli are lacking. For example, | | | | cooperative play are lacking. The inability to |
| there is an impairment of exchanging nonverbal | | | | establish and maintain social interactions tends to |
| social action cues, like returning a smile or reacting | | | | isolate the child; however, it would be a mistake |
| to a frown. A "deadpan" expression is common, | | | | to believe the child with autism prefers to remain |
| but not universal, among children with autism. | | | | alone. Personal attachments may be formed but |
| Another cue for parents is the child's not asking | | | | in a limited way. Developing better social |
| for what he wants or needs. He is more likely | | | | interaction for the autistic child often hinges on |
| point or use a gesture to make his needs known. | | | | strategies to enhance his communications skills. |
| The autistic child shows little spontaneous interest | | | | There are many more resources and information |
| in the people around him and does not make an | | | | about autism signs, symptoms, treatments, and |
| effort to point out things that they are talking | | | | cutting edge medical research in, Autism: |
| about or enjoy. Related to this is a lack of | | | | Everything Parents And Caregivers Should Know |
| empathy toward others, because he doesn't | | | | About The Disorder. |