Has your child shown some of the tell-tale signs of autism? Then you or your child’s doctor may have requested an autism screening. But what is an autism screening? Is there a medical test that can determine if my child has autism?

The most important thing you can do as a parent or caregiver is to become informed about typical developmental milestones children should reach and master learning the signs of autism. But, how do I know if a person has autism? What are the characteristics of autism? How can I tell if my child may have autism? Well, let's look at the signs.

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that can vary drastically in severity. ASD can impact the way a person communicates, learns, and interacts with others. There is not just one type of autism. Instead, there are different subtypes. These subtypes occur because of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Because ASD is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has different strengths and challenges on this wide spectrum.