Autism is one the autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and it's a developmental disorder that usually occurs before a child is 3 years old. The Mayo Clinic reports that anywhere from three to six out of 1,000 children in the United States suffers from autism. It seems as if autism rates are increasing, but it's not known if it's because of better diagnostic tools and more reporting, or if there is a real increase in this disorder among children.
Language
It's normal for babies to make sounds and smile before 9 months of age and babble by 12 months of age; however, babies with autism don't usually do those three things. Speech comes later for children who suffer from autism, or the child's language skills decrease dramatically. If the child was able to put together sentences, he might no longer be able to do so. When a child with autism speaks, he usually does not make eye contact with the person he's speaking to. It's hard for him to carry on a conversation or start conversations with peers and adults. The toddler probably has the ability to repeat phrases that he hears, but he doesn't know how to use them in conversation. His speech may sound robotic.
Social Skills
A child who suffers from autism usually doesn't respond when her name is called and does not make eye contact. When you talk to the child, you might feel she doesn't hear you or is ignoring you, because she doesn't respond to questions or requests. Many children with autism are extremely sensitive to touch, so she might avoid cuddling or pull away when her parents try to hug her. If her parents take her to a play group, she might be the only child playing alone, and it might seem that she likes playing alone better than playing with peers. She might also seem disinterested in toys. It's hard for children with autism to pick up on social cues. They're unable to read facial expressions and understand emotions of others. They have a hard time making friends.
Behavior
Many children with autism will do similar motions over and over, such as flapping their arms or rocking back and forth. This is a form of coping for these children, because they are over-stimulated. Children with autism usually develop a daily routine and become extremely upset if the routine changes. Children with autism have a hard time sitting still. They usually move all the time.
