·       Not
point at objects to show interest(for example, not point at an airplane flying
over )

·       Not
look at objects when another person points at them

·       Have
trouble relating to others or not have n interest in other people at all

·       Avoid
eye contact and want to be alone

·       Have
trouble to understanding other people feelings or talking about their own
feelings

·       Prefer
not to be held or cuddled

·       Appear
to be unaware when people talk to them, but respond to other sound

·       Be
very interested in people , but not know how to talk, play, or relate to them

·       Repeat
or echo words or phrase said to them , or repeat phrase or words on place of
normal language

·       Not
play ‘pretend” games ( for example, not pretend to ”feed” a doll)

·       Lode
skills they once had( for example stop saying words they were using)

·       Repeat
action over and over again

·       Have
trouble adapting when a routine change

·       Have
unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound

·       May
be non-verbal

·       May
exhibit self injurious behavior when upset (for example biting selves or
banging heads.

·       May
spin his/herself or objects, flap arms , run, constantly or make odd body
movements (stemming)

·       May
avoid eye contact

·       Poor
speech or lack of speech

·       Frequently
walks on tip-toes as a toddler

·       Clumsiness

·       Very
good at rote memory such as repeating lists or facts

·       Very
poor diet

·       Unusual
emotional responses

·       Lack
of imitation of others or imaginative play

·       Unresponsive
to commands and questions

Causes
also include:

·       Genes

·       Having
a sibling with ASD

·       Having
certain genetic  or chromosomal
conditions such as fragile X syndrome or tuberous sclerosis

·       Taking
certain prescription drugs during pregnancy

·       Children
born to older parents

·       In
the majority of cases , no specific underlying cause can be defined

·       A
combination of autism risk genes and environmental factors influencing early
brain development

·       May
be neurological , infectious , metabolic , and immunologic factors   

·       Parental
psychiatric history

 

Unknown,
no guidelines for preventing:

·       Invalid theories:

·       Postnatal environment: allergies
and exposure of children to drugs , vaccines , infections , certain , foods

·       Lack
of vitamin D

·       Refrigerator
mother

 

·       Valid theories:

 

·       Genetic factors:
the most significant cause

 

·       Prenatal environment: age in either parent(m40+;f40+,m-30); diabetes , bleeding , and use of
psychiatric drugs in the mother during pregnancy