The cause of autism isn't known, but cases are increasing. Symptoms Often Dismissed The signs of autism are often visible early on, but only 30 percent of doctors are testing for it. It sometimes takes years after the first symptoms are noticed for autism to be diagnosed. She and a panel of experts reviewed more than 2,700 studies and concluded that all infants should be checked by their pediatrician for any delays during development that may indicate autism or other developmental disorders. Early diagnosis and treatment can dramatically help an autistic child's development, experts say.
Autistic children have problems showing affection or sympathizing with others.
They are thought to lack the ability to sense intuitively what people are thinking or feeling by their expressions or tone of voice. Autistic infants often stiffen when picked up by a parent, rather than clinging to them. Signs of autism in a young child include repeat body motions, such as rocking back and forth or flapping their arms. Although the disorder was discovered nearly 60 years ago, scientists have yet to come up with a clear-cut cause, test or cure for it. There is no identified gene, reliable blood test, or brain-imaging technique that can definitively diagnose autism.