Typically, it appears during the first three years of life. It is estimated that it occurs in approximately 2 to 6 in 1,000 individuals, and is 4 times more prevalent in males than females. People with autism might have problems talking with you, or they might not look you in the eye when you talk to them. They may have to line up their pencils before they can pay attention, or they may say the same sentence again and again to calm themselves down. They may flap their arms to tell you they are happy, or they might hurt themselves to tell you they are not. Some people with autism never learn how to talk.

Early diagnosis and intervention are vital to the future development of the child. It is widely considered that a cure will not be found very soon, because autism involves aspects of brain structure determined very early in a baby's life. Thankfully, there are a variety of medications designed to help minimize the symptoms of autism, as well as to help enhance learning. In some cases, these medications can help people with autism lead an almost 'normal' life.