April is Autism Awareness Month and it might be time to shed some light on the disorder. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) works with state governments and educational institutions to track cases of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), recording numbers and characteristics. Detecting autism in a child is hard enough for a professional, never mind the parents. The CDC says, “The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less. It is important to note that some people without ASD might also have some of these symptoms.”

There are some red flags that parents can look for in the children, according to the Aransas Pass Progress publication, to detect for possible early signs of autism. These include: not answering to their own name by 12 months of age, not pointing at objects to show interest, avoiding eye contact or social interaction in general, delayed speech or language skills, giving unrelated answers to questions and becoming upset at minor changes in environment or circumstances, just to name a few.

A parent who suspects their child is afflicted with autism may first decide to visit a family physician or pediatrician. Alternatively, education institutions can help families get help even before a child reaches school age. Public schools usually offer hand-tailored educational programs such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and psychological services. An autistic student’s educational program would be individually tailored to their specific needs, and educational services could be granted until age 21.