Did you know autism affects one in every 68 children?

Of that number, the Centers for Disease Control states that one out of every 42 boys who are five times more likely to be affected will be diagnosed as autistic.According to the Autism Speaks website, a few absolute red flags indicate that a child should be evaluated for autism.Behavior characteristics are the biggest key for doctors to determine whether a child is autistic.If your baby or toddler begins to show any of the following signs, ask your pediatrician or family practitioner for an immediate evaluation.• No big smiles or other facial expressions by six months.• No sharing of sounds or smiles by nine months.• No babbling by one year.• No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing or waving by one year.• Not speaking some words by 16 months; and no meaningful, two-word phrases by 24 months.• Having an impaired ability to make friends with peers as a toddler.• Can't initiate a conversation.• Unusual use of language or having a repetitive nature with language.• Lack of imagination and social playing skills.• Any loss of speech or babbling.Parental observations are an important factor when diagnosing a child with autism. So be sure to watch how your child's development progresses and make notes if something doesn't seem right.Some symptoms may mask themselves, so if you suspect anything is wrong, don't wait to get your child checked.For additional information on autism, the causes, the treatments and more, visit,

www.autismspeaks.org or

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm.