Kids with autism (also called autism spectrum disorder, or ASD) have trouble interacting with others and have narrow areas of interest. Every child with autism is different and has their own areas of strengths and weaknesses. Many resources and support services can help your child. By working with a medical care team and starting interventions (treatments) early, you can help your child learn and develop.

Follow your health care provider's recommendations for: 

• Building a care team of medical providers, which might include specialists such as a mental health provider (psychiatrist, psychologist, or counselor), neurologist, speech therapist, physical therapist, and occupational therapist. 
• Giving your child any medicines. 
• When to follow up.

Talk to staff at your child's public school:

• Find out what services the school offers. 
• There are free state plans for children under 3 years old, usually run through the public school systems. Kids who are kindergarten age or older get an IEP (individualized education program) or a 504 plan. These plans provide an outline of the supports a child needs at school and how they can be put in place.

Learn about autism and find support:

• Talk to your child's health care team.
• Look online at autismspeaks.org or autismsociety.org.
• Find local support groups.

Understand your child's needs:

• Notice what triggers challenging behaviors and what helps your child behave. Discipline methods that may work for other kids might not work for kids with autism. Work with your care team to find what works for your child.
• Try to learn what your child finds stressful and what makes them feel uncomfortable.

• Your child's behavior gets worse. 
• You have trouble coping with your child's behavior or worry you might hit or hurt your child.

What causes autism? The exact cause of autism isn't known. It's likely that many different things in combination lead to changes in the way the brain develops before a baby is born. Some people are more likely to have autism because it runs in their family.

Other things, such as problems during pregnancy or at birth, might be part of the cause. 

What are the symptoms of autism? Symptoms can vary widely among kids with autism. Many things can play a role, such as language delays, learning problems, and other attention and behavioral challenges that a child has.

Children with autism may have problems with: 

• body language and eye contact 
• interacting with others 
• building and keeping relationships 
• sensory input (how they experience what they see, hear, feel, smell, or taste)
• rigid behavior (being stubborn and not liking changes in plans) 
• strong and unusual interests
• delayed speech
• unusual ways of moving their hands, fingers, or whole body 
• repeating things over and over again