Jeremy was a happy baby, but his mother, Casey, felt there was something that just wasn’t right about him. Whenever she tried to hold him, his body stiffened and he looked away. She found it hard to get and keep his attention. And he didn’t point to pictures in books or babble like the other children his age. At first she thought it was just that all children develop differently, but when things didn’t improve after his first birthday, she believed it was something more.

Casey talked to Jeremy’s doctor about his behavior differences. After being tested by a number of specialists, Jeremy was diagnosed with autism.

Autism is a brain disorder that affects as many as 1 in 500 people, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, autism researchers believe the number is actually much lower.

“In reality, autism is an extremely rare disorder, occurring in about 3 or 4 people per 10,000,” explains Dr. Robin Hilsabeck, a neuropsychologist and the Director of Cognitive Programs at Texas Tech University Health Services Center.

Some children who show signs of autism may actually suffer from related Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). PDD is characterized by problems with social interaction and communication skills, and by the need for sameness or repetition in behavior. PDD includes autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder—not otherwise specified (including atypical autism), and Asperger’s disorder.

Although autism is found in children of every race, ethnicity, and economic group, boys are four times more likely than girls to have the disorder. Despite years of research, the exact causes of autism are still unknown. Most researchers believe it is a combination of birth complications, family history of developmental delays, and a variety of environmental factors.

What To Look For

  • Social delays. One of the first things parents of autistic children notice is their child’s lack of social interaction. Some parents notice this when their child is only a few weeks old.
    • The baby may not look at them or may refuse to be cuddled.
    • It may take longer to see a first smile.
    • As the child grows, he may seem to be off in his own little world, not responding to questions or welcoming interaction.
  • Language delays. Children with autism also have problems with language development.
    • Their babbling may start later and last longer than that of other children.
    • They might not use sounds to mean specific things, like “ba-ba” for bottle.
    • They may not point to the things they want or need, as other children do.
  • Need for sameness. Another sign of autism is a child’s intense need for things to be the same. More than a normal toddler’s desire to read the same book every night, an autistic child does the same things over and over again.
    • Behaviors like arm flapping or head banging are not unusual.
    • Spinning a plate for hours on end, or continually stacking or lining up toys are also common behaviors in autistic children.
  • Inappropriate play. Although all toddlers like to explore toys differently, children with autism rarely play with toys in the way they are expected to.
    • While most fifteen-month-olds make faces in a mirror, the autistic child might run his lips over it again and again to feel its smoothness.
    • Instead of fitting puzzle pieces into a puzzle, an autistic child might line them up or stack them again and again.
  • The next step. If you see any unusual behaviors in your child, discuss them with his doctor. Although there are no medical tests for autism, the doctor can refer you to a team of specialists who will further evaluate your child to make a diagnosis. “It’s never too early to make sure your child is developing appropriately,” says Danette G. Palomar, a Child Development Specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago. In fact, recent studies show that early detection and treatment of autism may lead to better outcomes for your child.

For more information, visit the National Autism Association.

Lisamarie Sanders is a former teacher currently raising her two young children. She is a freelance writer specializing in family and education articles.