Autism (early childhood autism) is a mental state characterized by a closed inner life, active detachment from the outside world, and separation from reality. Children with autism often seem strange to others. They may not react to the people around them, avoid eye to eye contact, and compulsively repeat actions (swaying, jumping, spinning). Symptoms of early childhood autism appear before the age of 3 years. Manifestations of autism in each specific case differ from each other. The most common signs of autism: Insufficient or complete absence of the need for contact with others; Isolation from the outside world; Weakness of emotional response in relation to loved ones (mother/father, sisters/brothers, grandmother/ grandfather); Difficulty in distinguishing between animate and inanimate objects (often such children are considered aggressive, they can push, pull other children by the hair); Insufficient / weak reaction to visual and auditory stimuli (in the absence of visual or hearing impairments); Commitment to maintaining unchanged environment (changes in the usual order of events or actions leads to increased anxiety, often to hysterics and behavioral disturbances); Fear of everything new (it is difficult to cope with a change of place of residence, new clothes, food, toys); Monotonous behavior with a tendency to stereotypical behavior, primitive movements (rotation of hands, bouncing on toes, swinging); Monotonous, repetitive games, often with non-game material (ropes, keys, sticks, bottles); Speech disorders: from complete loss of speech to increased verbalization (for example, the child constantly says the word he likes) . If you are concerned about the development of your child, then you should definitely contact a specialist specializing in the field of developmental disorders. When diagnosing autism, an important point is an interdisciplinary examination, which will be carried out by a team of specialists (psychiatrist, neurologist, clinical psychologist, speech therapist). Early diagnosis of autism allows for timely corrective intervention, which will improve the prognosis of the child’s further mental development. Literature: Mamaichuk I.I. Psychological assistance to children with developmental problems. – St. Petersburg – Speech, 2008. – 224 pp. http://outfund.ru/kak-perezhit-diagnoz-autizm/