In 1943, Dr. Leo Kanner first brought the autistic spectrum disorders to the attention of the world. Around the same time, another scientist Dr. Hans Asperger was making a similar discovery about the disorder of Asperger syndrome. We now know that autism and Asperger syndrome both fall into the disorders within the autism spectrum. While these disorders can all have similarities, they do vary in the way that they affect individuals, with regard to communication skills, repetitive behavior and problems with social interaction.

An autistic spectrum disorder can be first noticed in a child by the age of 3 and in many cases much earlier. It is normally the parent who is the first to notice the behaviors or at times, the lack of certain behaviors of their children. Children who are stricken by disorders of the autism spectrum act differently than other children and sometimes do so from birth. They are most often unresponsive to parents and other individuals and will focus on objects that are not of any relevance, for an extended period of time. The child may also show signs of changes as they develop. If a child was once able to focus and interact with parents and others by babbling and cooing and suddenly becomes resistant to socialization, then this could be a cause for concern.

Disorders may range from the milder form in the autism spectrum, normally referred to as Asperger syndrome, to a more severe form known as an  autistic disorder. There is also  high functioning autism, which shows symptoms very close to Asperger syndrome. If a child seems to have  symptoms of autism, either the mild or the more sever form, yet does not fall under a certain criteria for one of these disorders, then they are normally diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder.

If disorders in the autistic spectrum are caught early on, then there are plans that can be put into action that can help the patient gain better skills in both communication and in social situations. The problem is that these disorders are not always noticed right away, mostly because children all develop at different rates. Not every child will speak at the same time another might, and so on. It is important than any delays in development be passed on to the child's physician so that testing for autism spectrum disorders can be initiated.