How you respond to small details, patterns, smells or sounds could indicate autism

It also recommends making a book of photos or a collection of images on their device, so they can look at it before and during the change.

What are the causes of autism?

There is no single cause of autism but research points strongly to a combination of genetic and non-genetic, or environmental, influences.

According to autism research body Autism Speaks, changes in certain genes increase the risk that a child will develop autism.

“If a parent carries one or more of these gene changes, they may get passed to a child (even if the parent does not have autism),” says the health body.