The signs and symptoms of ASD can be subtle.  The hallmark feature of ASD is impaired social interaction that can even be noted in early infancy.  Social behaviors such as a lack of responsiveness and an abnormal focus on one item for long periods of time.  A child with ASD may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement.  As they grow older, children with an ASD may fail to respond to their names and often avoid eye contact with other people.  They have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they can't understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and don't watch other people's faces for clues about appropriate behavior.  They may lack empathy.  

Physical behaviors may include repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling, or in self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging.  They also tend to start speaking later than other children and may refer to themselves by name instead of "I" or "me."  Children with an ASD don't know how to play interactively with other children.  Some speak in a sing-song voice about a narrow range of favorite topics, with little regard for the interests of the person to whom they are speaking.  It is important to note that ASD varies widely in severity and symptoms and may go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected children or when it is masked by more debilitating handicaps.[i]

The cause of ASD remains uncertain, although experts believe that both genetics and environment play a role.  In fact, researchers have identified a number of genes associated with the disorder.  There is no evidence that parenting or immunizations play any role in autism.

ASD in not an uncommon disease.  According to the new CDC study, 1 in 68 children aged 8 years (or 14.7 per 1000) have ASD -- roughly 30% higher than previous estimates.  The data also revealed that ASD is almost 5 times more common among boys than girls and that white children are more likely to be identified as having ASD than are black or Hispanic children.[ii]   

It is important to diagnose ASD early as research shows that early intervention treatment services can greatly improve a child's development.  Early intervention services help children from birth to 3 years old (36 months) learn important skills and include therapy to help the child talk, walk, and interact with others.[iii]