Autism is defined as a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language in abstract concepts. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 8 children which is about 1.3 percent of the US (1 in 42 being boys and 1 in 189 being girls) has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by significant impairments in social interactions and communication skills, as well as the presence of extremely challenging behaviors which include aggression, repetitive motor behaviors and even resistance to change Thanks to scientific studies, it’s shown that there is a clear genetic component to ASD. While it is not necessarily known what causes autism, it is a favored theory that autism is a genetically based disorder that begins before birth. This is known because studies on the brain of autistic people show distinct abnormalities in the brain structures that from while a child is still in the womb which is also known as the gestation period. This is definitely an advance in science because throughout the late 90’s to early 2000’s, it was theorized that contaminated vaccines were the root cause of autism but that has since been disproven. Learning about pediatric autism is only the first step in taking action against it. Learning about the early signs of autism can change a life while learning about the different types of autism can educate someone way past their former knowledge of the disease. Lastly, explaining the process and challenges faced during the average day in the life of someone with autism or even a caretaker of an autistic person can open the door to discovery and maybe even curation of this startling and detrimental illness. Knowing the early signs of autism is important for anyone who is planning on having children. You have to watch for the different signs for the first few years of your child’s life. Be sure to monitor your child’s development because autism has a variety of developmental delays. Trust your instincts and contact your pediatrician as soon as you notice something is wrong. Autism is difficult to diagnose before one year, but symptoms often surface between 12 and 18 months. If signs are detected by 18 months of age, intensive treatment could help rewire the brain and reverse the symptoms. “The earliest signs of autism involve the absence of normal behaviors not the presence of abnormal ones so they can be tough to spot.” (Helpguide) According to the Autism Science Foundation, the stages are varied by different ages. Early signs at two months old include: respond to loud sounds, watch things as they move, smile at people, bring his/her hands to mouth, or hold his/her head up when pushing on the tummy. Early signs at six months are when your child doesn’t: reach for things, show affection for caregivers, respond to sounds around her/him, make vowel sounds,