Autism is not a mental illness. It is not something that is caused by bad parenting or by any other psychological influences in the child s life. Children with autism are not choosing to behave badly. Not all individuals with autism behave the same way. U sually occurs during the first three years of life.
Many parents report that they are aware of developmental differences during the first year of life.
Early diagnosis and intervention are important to the future development of the child. I nterferes with communication, interaction, and sensory processing. Many children with autism have difficulty in talking, playing with other children, and relating to others, including their family members. Some children with autism develop intense interests in certain objects such as bottles or pan lids, or in certain activities like opening or closing doors or drawers which they insist on doing over and over again. Some children with autism are troubled by certain sounds and prefer only certain foods.