Media attention has raised awareness about autism. Although autism doesn't ever go away, early diagnosis and treatment of this disorder can greatly increase a child's later chances of living independently and having an enjoyable life.

Autism is one of several disorders called persistent disorders of neurological development. Autism impairs the ability of people to socialize and communicate normally with others, and to behave in ways that blend in with society at large.

Although autism manifests itself differently from one child to another, one study has suggested that parents and caretakers be on the lookout for the following signs of the disorder, which may show up in the first year of life, before the child can speak:

• The child does not often gaze into the parents' eyes. If the child does meet a parent's gaze, his or her facial expression lacks warmth and joy.
• The child does not engage in an alternating, back-and-forth pattern of vocalizations with the parent, a behavior that normally begins at approximately six months of age. In such exchanges, a possibly autistic infant will continue vocalizing without pausing and then responding to the parent's speech.
• The infant gives no sign that it recognizes the mother or father's voice.
• The infant disregards vocalizations (for example, it fails to respond to its name), yet is keenly aware of sounds in the environment.
• The child has not started babbling by nine months of age.
• Pre-speech gestures (waving, pointing, showing, grasping, and holding) are absent or rare.
• Verbal expressions such as "oh oh" or "huh" are absent.
• The child is not interested in, or does not respond at all to, neutral statements by the parents (e.g., "Oh no, it's raining again!")

In later life, autism interferes with and impairs many aspects of socialization, communication, and behavior. Thus, it is crucial, if parents suspect autism, that they take their child to the pediatrician promptly, either to allay unnecessary fears or to begin some therapy if required.