More people are becoming aware of Autism these days and although no-one likes to think that their child may have something wrong with them, the number of children diagnosed with Autism seems to have increased over recent years. It is because of the increase in awareness of the disorder that people are learning more about the symptoms of Autism and then may relate them to their own children.

There are many symptoms of Autism and these symptoms will vary from child to child. Some symptoms are also similar to symptoms of other disorders so if your child has one or two symptoms it does not necessarily mean that they have the disorder. So even if your child is slower at some developmental milestones than other children it may not mean that they are Autistic, some children are just later at developing than others.

If you are concerned about your child's development then you should speak to your health care provider who should be able to recommend whether further testing should be considered. There are no blood tests to test for Autism and it can only be diagnosed by several visits with a paediatrician or psychiatrist and so it is important to seek the help of these professionals rather than to self diagnose your child. The earlier that you have your child diagnosed by a professional the better chance of successful treatment for your child.

All children are different and each child will develop at their own rate so don't compare your child with other children and immediately assume that something is wrong with your child because they haven't reached a particular milestone that everyone else's children seems to have reached already. You will find with children also that even though they may reach some milestones later than normal, they may excel at others and reach them much earlier than normal.

As a parent, sometimes you just ‘know' that something isn't right. You just know in your heart that your child has something wrong and that it is a bit more than just ‘normal late development'. If your gut instinct is telling you that there may be something wrong then by all means consult a doctor and if they don't agree but your gut is still telling you something is wrong then get a second opinion. Don't under estimate a mother's instinct.

If your child is Autistic it can change your life in a big way. You will need to learn as much as you can about the disorder and you will need to change your lifestyle to suit it. Although a diagnosis may take some time, once you have that diagnosis it does bring some measure of relief as you know that there is a reason for your child's behaviour and once you know what it is then you can take steps to treat it.

Here are some of the signs of Autism that if your child shows then they may need further evaluation.

1. No eye contact
2. None or minimal communication
3. None or minimal show of emotions
4. They do not pretend play
5. May use repetitive movements
6. Is very upset with any changes in their life or schedule
7. May be unresponsive when spoken to
8. Will have repetitive habits
9. May lose skills that they previously had
10. Experience greater sensory reactions, such as they may be sensitive to certain smells, lights or noises.

If your child shows any of these signs then you may want to seek professional help and get a diagnosis so you can start a treatment plan. Remember though that children do develop differently and some will take a little longer than others and that is completely normal, so don't stress too much over a little delay in reaching a milestone.