The signs of autism come in several forms. These are all signs associated with the child's behavior. They are considered abnormal in our society, but very normal in the world of an autistic child. You will notice some of these behaviors:
1. An autistic child does not interact with children well, in any type of setting, they prefer to play alone.
2. They avoid eye contact with another person.
3. They have a difficult time forming words or they will mimic your words.
4. They are startled easily by loud noises, such as the vacuum cleaner.
5. They liked to have things in order, in straight lines and will become upset if it becomes rearranged.
6. They can tell you they are hungry one moment, but when you offer them food, they no longer want it.
7. They ask for an item, but when you try to hand it to them, they become upset and insist on picking up it themselves when they decide the time is right.
These signs of autism are not anything to be concerned about individually, but when he shows most of these, then this is a signal that he needs to be tested for heavy metals. Let your doctor know of your observations of your child's odd behavior.
There are a lot of doctors who don't like to test children under the age of 3, but if recognize some of these behaviors, you can ask for your child to be tested earlier.
There has recently been a bill signed by President Bush called the Combating Autism Act of 2006. This bill was a huge step forward for autism activists groups. There will be funds up to $1 billion dollars for research over the next 5 years to fight autism. The money will be spent in research, early detection, screening and intervention. This legislation will increase the budget for autism by 50 percent. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated and needed.
When you see signs of autism in someone you love, have hope, do research, join support groups, become educated and help to fight this battle. You may feel alone on many occasions, but know that you are not alone.
