I wanted to discuss with you the characteristics of autistic children. A lot of people really don't understand what makes up autism. They see some aggressive images on the local news and they assume it is this pretty bad thing. What is often missed is that these really products of autistic behavior. Autism is a disorder that leaves a person lacking the communication and relating skills, as well as being unable to properly interpret their many senses. It's important to understand that autism can have an effect on many parts of a person, but they vary in such high degrees that you'd have a hard time figuring how has it and how doesn't. The characteristics of autistic children are varying and I'm going to show you exactly what they are.

Children that are born are unique, with their own skills and abilities. This is why you have such a varying degree of behavior coming from autistic children. Some children have excellent communication skills, while others can't even talk. Some can go out and play with friends, while others just want to sit alone. Each child is unique and they should be treated as such.

Communication problems are one of the biggest characteristics of autistic children. When most of us think of communication, we think verbal, but communication is far more than that. Children start learning how to do it within their first year. Babies are extremely receptive to body language and expressing their body language. It isn't difficult to determine a baby's mood. If they have a big smile on their face, they're probably happy. If they're giving that "5 seconds away from crying" look, than you can tell they're upset. With autistic children, they don't start to learn these things. They're supposed to pick these up from their parents, but they just don't.

Relating problems are probably the biggest of all characteristics of autistic children. A child will learn the skills of communication and relating by mimicking their parents. Babies will hold eye contact with you and smile when you do. As they get older, they'll try to copy the way you talk. Autistic children don't have this desire to do it. Babies won't smile back or make eye contact with you. When you talk, they don't bother to listen. This is the main reason why it is important to have treatment for this problem because the early years are so important for learning the vital communication and relating skills.

Studies have shown that the earlier you identify the characteristics of autism in your children, the sooner they can be treated and the higher the success rate. The major problems with autism come out when treatment comes too late. There are specific times early in a child's life where they need to learn these communication and relating skills and if they miss it, it makes it a much worse problem.