Autism is a complex biological disorder that generally lasts throughout a person’s lifetime. It is a developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and causes delays in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, leisure and/or play skills.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD's) are among the most frequently misdiagnosed and mistreated neuropsychiatric disorders. Such disorders include, but are not limited to, Autistic Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD-NOS), High Functioning Autism, Asperger’s, and Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities.

Autism is the most common of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD's), affecting an estimated 1 in 166 births (Centers for Disease Control Prevention, 2004). Roughly translated, this means as many as 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism. And this number is on the rise. Autism knows no racial, ethnic, social boundaries, family income, lifestyle, or educational levels and can affect any family, and any child. Although the overall incidence of autism is consistent around the world, it is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls.

The characteristic behaviors of Autism Spectrum Disorders may or may not be apparent in infancy (18 months to 24 months), but usually become obvious during early childhood (24 months to 6 years).

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) lists five behaviors that signal further evaluation is warranted:

Does not babble or coo by 12 months Does not gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 months Does not say single words by 16 months Does not say two-word phrases on his or her own name by 24 months Has any loss of any language or social skills at any age.

Having any of these five “red flags” does not mean your child has autism. Because the characteristics of the disorder vary so much, a child showing these behaviors should have further evaluations by a multidisciplinary team. This team includes a neurologist, psychologist, developmental pediatrician, speech/language pathologist, occupational therapist, or other professionals knowledgeable about autism.