Spotlight

Calling autism an "urgent public health issue," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in early 2007 that about 1 in 150 children in the United States are diagnosed with the developmental disorder — a higher rate than health officials had previously thought.

Now, in an effort to help detect autism as early as possible, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is urging doctors to routinely screen all children for red flags of autism at 18 and 24 months old.

Subtle symptoms of the common disorder are often present before a child's first birthday — sometimes even in early infancy — but often go unnoticed until the symptoms are more obvious to parents, usually when a child is between 15 and 36 months old.

But the AAP hopes to change that by making moms and dads — and their doctors — more aware of some common warning signs that include:

• not showing big smiles or other expressions of joy by 6 months
• not sharing back-and-forth smiles, sounds, or other facial expressions by 9 months
• not babbling or using gestures (like pointing or waving bye-bye) by 12 months
• not using single words by 16 months
• not using two-word "spontaneous phrases" by 24 months (that is, not saying two-word phrases on their own without repeating or mimicking someone else)
• losing language or social skills at any age

Though there's no cure for autism, getting help early on is crucial to helping kids cope with the condition, learn, and communicate.

More on Autism
More common in boys than girls, autism is a disorder that can affect the way a child behaves, thinks, communicates, and interacts with others — some kids have only mild symptoms, whereas others' are more severe.

Although it may seem like more kids are getting autism today, it's unclear whether the increased numbers mean that the disorder is actually on the rise. Why? For one, a broader definition of autism can be applied to more children who show varying degrees of symptoms. Plus, health professionals are becoming increasingly more aware of the condition, which has led to more diagnoses.

What This Means to You
All of the media attention about autism has made parents more informed and more worried, sometimes unnecessarily, about autism. Although it's important to be aware of possible warning signs, it's also wise to keep things in perspective — there's a wide range of normal and all children develop at different rates.

Of course, although some signs or slight delays may not end up being an indication of a bigger problem after all, if you're concerned about any aspect of your child's development, talk to your doctor for information, advice, and possibly reassurance — the earlier, the better.

And don't feel like you have to "wait and see" about any of your developmental concerns. You're the best judge of your child's well-being — so, if you feel like something really isn't right, don't hesitate to request a referral to a specialist for a more detailed evaluation.