Autism facts and warning signs

Facts:

• It occurs in the first three years of life.
• Children with autism show impairment in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and limited and restricted interests and behaviors.
• It is a neuro-development disorder, not caused by bad parenting.
• The cause, treatment, intervention and prognosis is uncertain.
• International statistics indicate that one in a 110 children have autism.
• Boys are four times more likely to be affected than girls.
• In most cases children require 24-hour care.
• Many parents are unable to take their children into public spaces because of their behavior.

Warning signs:

• A child has not said a word by 16-months.
• He or she does not respond when their name is called.
• They don’t babble or point by the first birthday.
• Two words are not strung together by the age of two.
• He or she avoids eye contact.”