The signs and symptoms of autism vary from person to person.

Early Signs of Autism

These signs and symptoms are often recognized by parents while their child is still in infancy. Along with these signs, parents may notice that their child doesn't meet physical, mental, language, or social developmental milestones.

• does not babble, point or make meaningful gestures by one year of age (meaningful gestures include asking to be picked up by raising arms while in front of mom or dad)
• does not speak one word by sixteen months
• does not combine two words by two years of age ("Car go!" "Dog sit" and other such phrases indicate normal development of speech)
• does not respond to his or her name (there is no turning of the head or recognition their name has been called)
• loses language or social skills (used to wave bye-bye, but no longer does)
• avoids eye contact (looks away from your eyes if you try to look at him or her)
• doesn't seem to know how to play with toys (spinning wheels of a toy truck instead of rolling it along)
• excessively lines up toys or other objects (often gets upset when these lines are broken or interupted, as well)
• is attached to one particular toy or object
• doesn't smile
• at times seems to be hearing-impaired (no response to names or questions, but can hear the sound of the candy bar wrapper from across the house)

Checklist of Warning Signs

These questions should be asked of your two to five year old child. This list is not a diagnostic tool by any stretch, it is only a guideline of what to watch for if you suspect autism in your child.

Does your two to five year old child...

• not respond when you call his or her name?
• not use his or her finger to point at object(s) to indicate wants?
• not show you toys of interest?
• not speak or has lost speech?
• use odd speech or language patterns such as echoing, repeating words over and over, or making unusual sounds?
• demonstrate strange behaviors such as flapping, finger flicking, or spinning?
• not engage in pretend or spontaneous play?
  
• line up books or other objects ritualistically?
• resist changes to routine or rituals?
• injure his or herself (head banging or hand biting)?
• show no fear of danger?
• seem highly distracted or out of touch?
• not like to be touched or hugged?
• display either over or under sensitivity to sounds, lights, touches, smells?
  

This is only a short list, but it gives parents a rough idea of what to look for before going to your doctor.