Autism is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior, causing minor or major problems. People with autism have trouble understanding what other people think and feel and may have trouble learning. Signs of autism usually occur before age 3.
Some signs of autism are high sensitivity to sounds, touches, smells or sights that seem ordinary. Other signs to note would be not looking at or listening to other people, problems using speech, gestures, facial expressions, or tone of voice. Additional indications include difficulty with change in routine, repetitive words or actions, as well as sleep and eating problems. There is no cure for autism, but early treatment can make a big difference! Therapies that help are applied behavior analysis, occupational therapy, speech therapy and feeding therapy.