Introduction

Finding out that your child has autism can be very upsetting. But getting treatment early on can help make a difference to your child's life.

We've brought together the best research about autism and weighed up the evidence about how to treat it. You can use our information to talk with your doctor and decide which treatments are best for your child.

You may have noticed that your child was different, even as a small baby. Perhaps they seem less involved with the world around them than other children. And maybe your child doesn't show much interest in other people.

You may be trying to work out whether the differences you have noticed are autism. Or you may have been told that your child has autism and want to find out the best way to help them.

Key points about autism

• If your child has autism, they may not learn to speak at the usual age. And they may have problems communicating in other ways too.

• Your child may not seem interested in other people. And they may have certain set ways of behaving and may do the same activity over and over again.

• Usually, these signs show up before your child is 3 years old.

• We don't know what causes most cases of autism. But it's linked to how your child's brain works. It's not caused by anything you as a parent might have done.

• About 6 in 1,000 children have an autistic spectrum disorder. That means they have autism or a related condition. Some children have only mild symptoms and some children have severe symptoms.

• There isn't any cure for autism. Your child will always have it. But getting treatment early on can help make a difference to your child's life.^[1]

• There hasn't been much research on which treatment works best.