Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition which impairs both verbal and nonverbal communication ability. It affects the behaviours as well as the social skills of the individual. Autism is a complex disorder affecting the development of a child. As it involves a wide range of symptoms, it is also referred to as autism spectrum disorder.

Autism can be diagnosed at around one and a half year age. The early signs and symptoms vary widely in both intensity and time of occurrence. The different signs and symptoms are considered as indicators and are used for the detection of autism.

Autism has varying signs and symptoms and include: limited or absolutely no eye contact, little or complete absence of expressions like smiling, repetitive behaviours, not accepting minor changes in the routine, lack of orientation and difficulty in communication.

It is often thought that individuals with autism have a lack of social interest due to which they avoid eye contact. However, it is not true. Eye contact is a stressful situation for them, and excessive activation in certain parts of the brain can be avoided by avoiding eye contact.

Although the exact underlying cause of autism is still unclear, the altered developmental process of the brain may cause autism. There are many other factors which increase the risk of autism and include: an immediate family member with autism, low birth weight, exposure to toxins, genetic mutations and other genetic disorders.