How to Identify the Signs of Autistic Disorder

Autistic Disorder is becoming more prevalent today than it ever has been. In fact, it is estimated that there is 1 child with autism in every 160 children. Having a child with autistic disorder can be very frustrating. You, as a parent, want your child to be happy and healthy, but it's difficult to understand what your child wants, because he may not be able to communicate normally.

Think of it like this. You get an idea in your mind, and you want to turn and tell that idea to me. Your idea forms and then your brain turns your idea into words which you can say to me. I can hear your words, and my brain turns them back into an idea that I can understand, and I also automatically pick up on your body language as well.

With autistic disorder, one or more of these steps it takes to transfer and receive ideas and words are damaged, or not working properly. There are different levels of autism, ranging from severe to mild. When a child has a more severe form of an autistic disorder, (s)he may not be able to communicate at all. If you think this is frustrating to you, think about the child's point of view. So many thoughts and ideas that you want to share and receive, yet your brain will not allow it to happen. The child may be confused or scared. This leads to strange behavior that may include several different things.

Ritualistic Behavior - A child with autistic disorder may want to perform daily activities the same way every time, such as dressing in the same clothes or eating the same foods. It is actually very stressful for the child to have their routine changed.

Sameness - A child with autistic disorder may be afraid of or angry at the thought of change. For example, he may become disturbed at his bedroom being rearranged, or getting a new outfit.

Self-Injury - This includes actions a child with autistic disorder may do to injure himself, such as biting or scratching. This can affect about 30% of children with autism

Trouble or failure communicating - This can be noticed from a very early age, and can include babbling, wild gestures or movements, repetitive babbles or words, and words that are backwards.

Autistic Behaviors usually show themselves before age 3. You can recognize behavior of severe autistic disorders in a child as young as 1 year of age. There is no single behavior that you will see and be able to know that a child has autistic disorder, however, these behaviors seem to be the most common behavior in children with autism.

If you think your child or a loved one's child may have an autistic disorder, the child should be taken immediately to an autistic disorder specialist for consultation. You might consider asking your family doctor for a reference for this. The earlier the child is diagnosed, the easier it may be to deal with the disorder. While there is currently not a known cure for autistic disorder, research is ongoing, and there are things that can be done for the child to make learning easier for them.