The brain continues to develop after birth. Therefore, early damage can often be compensated for if another part of the brain takes over the responsibilities of the damaged area. Because the brain's ability to reorganize itself declines rapidly during the first few years of life, techniques that allow for early detection of autism are critical. Several such diagnostic methods have recently been proposed. Most of these are based on the analysis of videotapes of infants later diagnosed with autism.
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the functions of the brain.
Dr. Philip Teitelbaum and his colleagues at the University of Florida in Gainesville were able to detect reliable differences in the movements of autistic infants at 4-6 months of age. The way these children learn to roll over and later to walk is not the same as the way of normally developing children. Overall, the movements of autistic children are less coordinated. For example, when sitting, they distribute their weight unevenly, causing them to fall over.