How can you tell if your child has a form of autism?

PORTLAND, Ore. - As many as one in 150 children may have some type of autism and although they may get by at home and at school, something is definitely wrong.

In our first story on this topic, we introduced you to several children with high-functioning autism and in this report, we investigate the signs.

In any classroom, you will find children who are all very different, so spotting the one who has been identified as having high-functioning autism is not easy, even for parents.

"Particularly parents with high-functioning autism children will say, 'you know, during infancy and toddlerhood I didn't have any concerns at all and as soon as I put him in preschool, wow, the difference was striking - watching how my child interacted with the other children,'" said Dr. Darrin Sikora, who works in the autism program at Oregon Health & Science University.

According to Sikora, it is difficult and complicated to identify these kids.  It comes down to socializing and not being able to do it in a healthy and appropriate way.  Some just do not want to have friends.

"These are the children that are often said to kind of be in their own little world," said Sikora.  "If they're on a playground, if they're in a classroom, they're off by themselves.  They're swinging or playing in the bark chips, where other children are playing organized activities or pretend play or things like that."

Others just do not have a clue how to initiate play.

"So they might run up and give them a hug or they might run up and tackle them or get right in their face but just not say anything or say 'you're really fat.'  So they want to be friends, they just have no idea how to do it," said Sikora.

In Audra Jensen's class in Vancouver, she is working with kids who have been diagnosed with Asperger's, or other forms of high-functioning autism.  She teaches them appropriate behavior, simple things other kids learn on their own.

"The type of support these kids need, especially on the high end of the spectrum, are not significant, but they are specific and they do need very specialized understanding on where the issues come from," said Jensen. "We may have seen them as the geeky kid or the kid that didn't have any friends, but we're realizing now there are differences in the way that they're thinking."

Dr. Sikora said spotting the problem at a young age is key, even prior to age two, so needs can be met and problems can possibly be overcome.  She said parents should consider the important question - does my child have friends?

"That one simple question can often lead you to a diagnosis of the autism spectrum," said Sikora.

Sikora said the most frustrating part for her is not having a better way to identify the problem - to say "yes" you have it or "no" you don't have it.  Boys are more likely to be diagnosed than girls, but doctors are not sure why.

With so many unanswered questions about autism, we encourage you to contact a specialist if you are concerned about your child.