Let us first discuss what autism is and what causes it. By having the proper knowledge on autism you could detect whether your child is suffering from autism or not. Autism is a disorder that can be diagnosed during early childhood. It is a brain disorder that involves communication difficulties with others. Areas of the brain failed to work. It is also called by doctors as Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) or Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). The main signs of autism are communication difficulties, social interactions and repetitive behaviors.

Studies have been made to determine the cause of autism. Many say it tends to run within families and it can be handed through offspring. Scientists are trying to find out the specific gene that is defective and responsible for passing these traits. Other studies are looking for whether it can be caused by medical problems or environmental factors.

Observe your child if he is having problems talking with you or with other family members in the house. Most autistic children do not look in the eye when you talk to them. They will do other things before they pay attention with what you are saying. They usually repeat the same sentence again and again to calm themselves down. They flap their arms to let you know they are happy. But be aware that they try to hurt themselves in order to tell you if they do not want something. Many children with autism never learn to talk at all.

Children suffering from autism have different symptoms because of this health care providers think of autism as a spectrum disorder or asperger syndrome. The cause of autism is still unknown. This kind of disorder last through a lifetime. No cure has been discovered until now but there are treatments for it that can help your child. Behavior and communication therapies and medications are available to control the symptoms.