Symptoms almost always start before a child is 3 years old. Usually, parents first notice that their toddler has not started talking yet and is not acting like other children the same age. But it is not unusual for a child to start to talk at the same time as other children the same age, then lose his or her language skills. Symptoms of autism include:

• A delay in learning to talk, or not talking at all. A child may seem to be deaf, even though hearing tests are normal.
• Repeated and overused types of behavior, interests, and play. Examples include repeated body rocking, unusual attachments to objects, and getting very upset when routines change.

There is no "typical" person with autism. Parents often say that their child with autism prefers to play alone and does not make eye contact with other people. For more information on the early signs of autism, please click on the following link. CDC Link