Are you worried your child's behaviour is a sign he has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? We explain the signs, diagnosis and where to find help
In the old days when a child didn’t develop speech as quickly as his peers or was always sitting alone at playgroup it was dismissed simply as a ‘phase’. Nowadays when this behaviour shows up it seems more and more parents are worrying it’s down to something else. “We frequently receive calls to our Autism Helpline from parents who are concerned about their child’s development,” says Caroline Hattersley, head of information, advice and advocacy at the National Autistic Society (NAS). Autism is a developmental disorder that affects children from birth or the early months of life. It results in a delay in – and deviance from – the normal patterns of development and stops children interacting ‘normally’ with others. But as with all conditions that could affect your children, it’s important to arm yourself with the facts before you start to worry.
Here's how to spot the signs of autism...
