Autism - How to Detect It in Your Child
Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder characterized by abnormal social interaction,
communication ability, interest patterns, and behavior patterns. Autism is found to occur due
to the vulnerability to environmental triggers displayed by the human genes. Seven major
genes have been identified to be related to autism. One child in every thousand in the United
States is found to suffer from this disorder.
This condition occurs to 1 child in every 700 in the population. It was found also that this is
most likely to occur among the boys. The signs manifest at an early stage in a child's life. It
is necessary that you be cautious of your child's behavior and responses.
How does one detect autism? The signs of autism may be observed as early as 18 months
to 3 years age of the kid. If your child is experiencing difficulty in the following aspects, it
would be helpful to consult a doctor or an expert:
1. Looking at others - Can he or she not look at you straight to the eye when you try to
communicate?
2. Playing with other kids - Does he or she avoid other kids or automatically shies
away?
3. Imagining - Can he or she not handle make-believe games?
4. Communicating - Are there words that he or she cannot say or will have to be said
over and over before he or she can grasp it?
5. Repetition - Are there mannerisms or motor movements that he or she keeps
repeating for no apparent reason or purpose?
6. Changes - Is he or she inflexible to changes? Does he or she get alarmed when you
change a certain routine, like waking up while it is still dark? Some babies can
actually manifest signs of autism
7. Babies that do not look in the eye can be displaying signs of autism, especially if they
would rather stare at moving mechanical objects or parts of it.
8. Too calm babies should also be observed. Are they able to lie for hours without
crying?
9. When babies do not play or do not interact with other babies.
How does one address this condition of autism?
The cause of autism is still unknown. That is why parents should not blame themselves if
they feel that they had been negligent in taking care of their kids during infancy, or if a
mother thinks she might not have properly taken care of herself during pregnancy. Just as
the definite cause is still unknown, there is no definite treatment to get rid of autism.
Autism walk is a committed effort by parents and volunteers to promote the cause of autism
research and treatment. Various autism walks have been organized around the world with
parents, children, volunteers, therapists, and group leaders taking part. It is a novel way to
spread awareness of the disorder as increasing number of children are being affected by it.

From 1970, where one in 10,000 children had autistic disorders, the number of children
affected by autism in America has grown to one in 169. It is high time autism is taken
seriously. An important step in that direction would be to educate parents in identifying
autistic tendencies in the early stages of the child's growth.
For more information, you may visit: http://tinyurl.com/me7suo