Autism - mental illness, a disease that arises in young children where the child is unable to communicate with the outside world. For parents it is - a great tragedy. Sometimes the disease is not easy to identify, particularly at an early stage.

According to statistics, autism occurs in one out of 250 babys. One of them - year-Lauren Anderson. Her parents are very worried by the fact that the girl properly developed, and suggest that she suffers from autism. «When it is something unhappy, it beats the head of any solid object, and publishes a wild screams», - said the mother of Lauren.

Autism is usually diagnosed in children aged three years or later, when the brain has already suffered irreparable damage. However, staff Institute Kennedy Krieger learned to recognize the signs at newborn autism kids and put a final diagnosis at the age of 14 months.

«One of the peculiarities that we found in the research - said Professor Rebecca Landau - is that when suspected autism children’s doctor should never be to analyze only a single aspect of behavior or one area of development. It is necessary to take into account all the components that play a role in the development of the child ». Professor Landau and her colleagues found that signs of autism at the baby could be newborn seen in ages. In particular, suspected of the disease occur when the six-month child is not smiling, not prattle and does not establish visual contact with others.

«Normally, normally developing kids love being in contact with several people - said Professor Landau. - When a child becomes a little older, doctors look for other warning signs. For example, you can think of autism, when yearling kid is no indication of who was trying to reach does not imitate adults, does not want to talk to them ».

Most pediatricians do not notice early signs of autism and therefore do not order baby relevant tests and examinations. But earlier detection of autism is very important because it enables early treatment, thereby slowed during the illness, said Rebecca Landau: «We can even improve a child so that he will pay attention to what surrounds him, he begins to develop speech, a desire to communicate with their peers ».

In short, if early diagnosis of children suffering from autism can help lead a more normal life.