Children with autism do not know how to play. They may manipulate or line up toys without apparent awareness of what the toys represent, and they do not engage in pretend play, which in normal children, starts before the age of two. Therefore, the observation of what a preschool child does with representational toys is an efficient way to detect autistic traits. No drug or other treatment cures autism, and many patients do not require medication. However, psychotropic drugs that target specific symptoms may help substantially.
Parents require ongoing counseling and support.
They must understand that they are not responsible for their child's condition. Desperate parents may need explicit counseling about the questionable value of unconventional, and often expensive, dietary, medical, and other therapies that, despite being without proved efficacy, are widely used. Although most patients with autism will remain dependent to some degree as adults, those with adequate social skills may find a specialized niche that enables them to become self-supporting. As a greater number of mildly affected individuals are identified, we may find that the proportion who achieve independence has been underestimated. However, social skills rarely improve enough to permit successful marriage.