Autism spectrum disorder in children, signs and symptoms

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) about one in 160 children has Autism spectrum disorder. Autism spectrum disorders are a diverse group of conditions that are characterized by some degree of difficulty with social interaction and communication, atypical patterns of activities and behaviors like difficulty with the transition from one activity to another, and unusual reactions to sensations.

Despite having a number of distinct signs, autism is often not diagnosed until later though it can be detected from early childhood.

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Autism spectrum disorder begins before the age of 3 years and can last throughout a person's life, although symptoms may improve over time. Some children show symptoms within the first 12 months of life.

The core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder are categorised into social communication or interaction and restrictive and/ or repetitive patterns of behavior.