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Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person’s lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Today, 1 in 150 individuals (1 in 94 boys) is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined with a 10-17% expected annual increase. 67 children are diagnosed everyday meaning 1 child is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes and 1.5 million people currently in the United States.

Autism occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person’s ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe. Autism costs the nation over $90 billion per year, a figure expected to double in the next decade and receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases.

Possible Red Flags/Signs of Autism

• The child does not respond to his/her name.
• The child cannot explain what he/she wants.
• The child’s language skills are slow to develop or speech is delayed.
• The child doesn’t follow directions.
• At times, the child seems to be deaf.
• The child seems to hear sometimes, but not other times.
• The child doesn’t point or wave “bye-bye.”
• The child used to say a few words or babble, but now he/she doesn’t.
• The child throws intense or violent tantrums.
• The child has odd movement patterns.
• The child is overly active, uncooperative, or resistant.
• The child doesn’t know how to play with toys.
• The child doesn’t smile when smiled at.
• The child has poor eye contact.
• The child gets “stuck” doing the same things over and over and can’t move on to other things.
• The child seems to prefer to play alone.
• The child gets things for him/herself only.
• The child is very independent for his/her age.
• The child does things “early” compared to other children.
• The child seems to be in his/her “own world.”
• The child seems to tune people out.
• The child is not interested in other children.
• The child walks on his/her toes.

(Taken from NIH 2008)