Autism-spectrum disorders: 24 warning signs
Does my child have autism? That's a question parents of young children often ask - and for good reason. The disorder - a cause of behavior, communication and socialization problems for about 1 in 100 kids - is notoriously hard to spot. But new research suggests that a simple checklist can give a good indication of whether a child is at risk for autism or other developmental problems.
The checklist isn't foolproof, and it's designed to be scored by a medical professional. But its developer, Florida State University's Dr. Amy M. Wetherby, says parents can get a good idea of whether there might be a problem simply by eyeballing the questions on the checklist (adapted here with permission of Brookes Publishing Co). Keep clicking to have a look...
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