Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder and the diagnostic criteria according to the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of  the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5) are the following:

1. Restricted social interaction and communication: difficulty using non-verbal forms of communication, lack of intimate reciprocity in interactions with other people and high difficulty in beginning or maintaining social relationships.

2. Stereotypical forms of behaviour: highly interested in specific objects and constantly engaging with them, reccurent and stereotypical body/facial movements, daily routines that can not be interrupetd without exaggerated tantrums of the child.

The diagnosis of autism is based primarily on observations of the behaviour of the child and psychometric assessment tools. The official diagnosis is given from a child psychiatrist or a developmental paediatrician.

Early signs of autism could be:

- The child does not make joint attention and does not follow the eye-gaze of the parent.

-  The child does not present social smile when playing with the parent.

- Limited forms of communication according to the developmental stage.

- Stereotypical way of playing woth toys.

-Prefers playng alone rather than with peers.

- Hyper/hypo-sensitivity to different body sensations.