Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), also simply known as autism, represents a broad group of learning disability disorders characterized by impaired social interactions, problems with non verbal communications and repetitive behaviors or severely limited activities and interests. Autism is one of the most commonly diagnosed childhood developmental disorders. The symptoms of autism in children usually appear before the child is 3 years old. According to the research by Centers for Disease Control Prevention in 2007, autism affects 1 in every 150 children in the United States. Statistics also show, that autism is three times common in boys than in girls. Read more on facts about autism.

Autism is characterized by three distinctive behaviors. There are certain physical characteristics of children with autism like difficulties with social interaction, display problems with verbal and non verbal communication and exhibition of obsessive interests. These behaviors can range in behavior from mild autism symptoms in children to disabling. As autism varies widely in severity and symptoms of autism in children, it may go unrecognized when debilitating disabilities mask it. In almost 75% of cases of autism, children also have mental retardation and find it difficult to bond with their parents or other family members. Read more on early symptoms of autism.

Autism Symptoms in Children

The signs and symptoms of autism in children, usually become observable in early childhood. Autism includes a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms, though each autistic child will exhibit a unique mixture of these behaviors, from mild autism symptoms to severe ones. The following are symptoms of autism in children:
Difficulty with verbal communication, including problems using and understanding languages
Difficulty with non verbal communication, like gestures and facial expressions
Even when the child has the ability to speak, there is the inability to participate in a conversation
Not able to make friends and preferring to play alone
Finds it difficult to socially interact and relate to people, and to his or her surroundings
Unique and unusual ways of playing with toys, like lining them only in a particular way
Not capable of imagining
Unable to adjust to changes in routine and unreasonable insistence on following the regular routine in detail
Obsession with unusual objects or parts of objects
Repetitive body movements or patterns of behavior like hand clapping, head banging or spinning
However, each child develops at their own pace, some may develop quickly than the other so, you should consider an evaluation for autism if any of the following autism symptoms in infants are seen:
The child avoids eye contact as much as possible
The child does not babble or coo by the time he or she is one year old
The child does not gesture in any form of a point or wave by the time he or she reaches the age of one year
The child does not start saying single words by the age of 16 months
The child does not start saying two word phrases by the age of 2 years
The child has lost all social skills
Diagnosis of Autism

Diagnosis of autism is based on standardized testing, plus a clinical evaluation by an autism specialist. These professionals are usually psychologists, psychiatrists, developmental pediatricians, pediatric neurologists or medical geneticists.
The diagnosis of autism is made when there are a specific number of symptoms as defined by the Diagnostic and Standard Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Some commonly used diagnostic tests are the CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale), the ABC (Autism Behavior Checklist) and the GARS (Gilliam Autism Rating Scale). Formal diagnosis by an autism specialist usually depends on completing the ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale), and ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised). The CHAT (Checklist for Autism in Toddlers) is often used in pediatrician’s offices to screen for autism symptoms. Also, when physical features, like small head size or brain malformations are present, or there is a family history of relatives with autism, genetic testing such as chromosome analysis and single-gene testing is done.

Autism Treatments

Though, autism is a disorder that does not have a fool proof treatment plan and cure, there are autism treatments available to bring about marked improvement. There are a number of special therapies and behavioral interventions that target the development of language and social skills. Also, there are a lot of support groups available for family members to help understand and cope with their autistic children. But most of all parents need to provide love and support to the child.

These were the symptoms of autism in children and the various tests available for its diagnosis, along with the treatment options. Though there is no cure found for autism, there are a lot of therapies and behavioral interventions designed to remedy specific symptoms and bring about substantial improvement. But the best remedy that one can use for an autistic child is to shower him with ample love and affection.