People with autism may have problems relating to others although early diagnosis and treatment of autism may help to give the patient some independence in their adult life.

Symptoms often appear before the age of three and may include a lag in learning to talk, not speaking or indications that the child may be deaf even if all tests discount this. A lack of eye contact and a preference to play alone may also be indicators that a child is autistic.

Also, if the child develops strange attachments to certain objects, displays repeated types of behaviors and becomes unsettled when the routine is changed, they may have autism. A doctor may follow certain guidelines when diagnosing autism in children.

The doctor may exam the child's social interactions and the relationship the child forms with others. The doctor may also exam the verbal and non-verbal communication exhibited by the child. Many children with autism may not speak or may repeat certain phrases over and over.

Additionally, the doctor will determine if the child has a limited interest in play. Children with autism may focus on a toy itself or part of the toy rather than playing with it.

Treating autism may involve behavior training. This may be done using positive reinforcement to teach good social behaviors. The training may also teach children how to effectively communicate and become as independent as possible as adulthood is reached.

Each case may be different, so the type of treatment may vary depending on the patient. Some patients may require speech or physical therapy, while others require medications for depression or other problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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