When a child demonstrates signs and symptoms as illustrated below, the parent may need to consult a specialist:

	Resist normal teaching methods
	Giggle and laugh for no explanatory reasons or at inappropriate moments
	Echolaly (repeating what is heard like parrot)
	Behave as if being a deaf
	Have no fear of real danger
	Insensitivity to pain
	Crying tantrums or extreme distress for no discernible reason
	Spin objects repeatedly
	Refuse to be cuddled
	Sustain odd plays
	Difficulty mixing with other children
	Resist changes in routine
	Avoid eye contact
	Stand-offish manner
	Uneven gross and fine motion skills
	Attachment to objects
	Indicate needs by gesture
	Demonstrate physical over-activity or extreme passivity

Autism greatly affects the way an individual relates to others and to the world. Its symptoms can be classified in the following general areas:

	Qualitative impairment in social interaction skills
	Limited, repetitive and stereotyped pattern of behavior, interests and activities
	- Delays or malfunction in social interaction, language or symbolic/imaginative play before the age of three