Autism Awareness Month in April is a good time to learn the signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and become familiar with typical developmental milestones. Symptoms of ASD typically appear during the first three years of a person’s life. Some may first notice developmental delays or a loss of skills when the child is 18 to 24 months old. Psychological influences, such as parenting, do not cause ASD. Studies show ASD involves environmental and/or genetic factors that result in biological and/or neurological differences in the brains of people with ASD. Currently no medical tests reveal the cause of ASD. Although there is no cure for ASD, research shows that early intervention treatment services may greatly improve a child’s development. For additional information, see the Pathway to Services and Supports for ASD, DHS-6751 (PDF) resource. 

If you are a parent, caregiver or person involved in a child’s life, you can track developmental milestones. Learn more at The Center for Disease Control and Prevention Milestone Tracker or The First Words Project. If you identify a concern, don’t wait, talk to your child’s pediatrician. For other resources, call your local school district or visit Helpmegrowmn.org. Stakeholders can reference the Minnesota Autism Resource Portal at MN.gov/autism to learn more about the variety of services and resources that might be available to the person. For personal inquiries and questions about autism, contact the DHS Autism team at asd.dhs@state.mn.us.