| Initial symptoms of autism are often noticed by a child's | | | | years, behavioral patterns will often change. While they |
| parents or caregivers, especially within the first 3 years | | | | will gain new skills or deepen old skills, most autistic |
| because any congenital signs of the disorder which | | | | children still lag behind in social skills such as relating to |
| are present at birth are difficult to identify or diagnosed | | | | or understanding others. This places pressure on the |
| during infancy. | | | | autistic child as he or she moves into puberty and |
| It is only when the child starts to exhibit signs of being | | | | begin to recognize emerging sexuality. |
| disinterested in playing certain games such as | | | | It is during this phase of life that teens with autism are |
| peekaboo, or does not begin to talk when other | | | | at higher risk of developing problems that may lead to |
| members of his playgroup or age starts to talk that | | | | anxiety and depression and in some cases epilepsy. |
| the parents will begin to worry. The parents will begin | | | | We often hear of cases of autistic children dying not |
| to be more apprehensive when their autistic child | | | | because of autism, but because of related difficulties |
| begins to lose his or her language skills after starting to | | | | such as death from injuries sustained during a fall |
| talk for a while. This condition often confuses the | | | | because of an epileptic attack or an episode of |
| parents, especially about the child's hearing abilities. In | | | | epilepsy. |
| many cases, the child with autism does not seem to | | | | In other cases, the autistic child may have a propensity |
| be able to hear, but at other times, he or she may | | | | to experiment with his or her sexuality and there are |
| appear to hear some distant background noise. | | | | cases of self mutilation of the body, including banging |
| However, against popular opinion, very few children | | | | of the head against the wall or hitting the arm against |
| with autism are completely unsociable, or live in a world | | | | furniture. |
| of their own. With powerful and effective strategies | | | | It is important therefore to be fully aware of the autistic |
| and early intensive treatment, most children with autism | | | | condition of a child or teenager and to take special |
| can improve in relating to others, can communicate | | | | precautions to enable the safety of the child or to |
| well and help themselves in coping as they grow older. | | | | provide a safe environment for the child with autism as |
| As an autistic child moves into his or her teenage | | | | he grows up. |