The American Academy of Pediatrics says children should be screened for the disorder twice before the age of two, as early intervention can lessen the severity of the symptoms.
Autism is a complex developmental disorder and the causes remain a puzzle and a controversial issue.
Autism causes problems with social interaction and communication and symptoms range from mild awkwardness to severe disability and mental retardation; delays in the development of communication skills are often are an early warning sign.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as many as one in every 150 U.S. children has autism or an autism spectrum disorder, such as Asperger's syndrome.
In two separate reports published this week experts advise parents to watch for symptoms such as babies four month old who do not smile at the sound of a parents' voice, do not babble or point or make other gestures by 12 months, use no single words by 16 months, no two-word phrases by 24 months and show a regression or loss of language or social skills at any age.
Dr. Scott Myers, a pediatrician and specialist in neurodevelopment was involved in the two clinical reports designed to help pediatricians identify and manage autism and he says children who start treatment earlier do better in the long term.
The pediatricians recommend early treatment of at least 25 hours of intensive behavior-based therapy each week throughout the year which includes education-based and fun activities in order to improve a child's chances for effective treatment.
They also suggest pediatricians familiarize themselves with and consider alternative and complementary approaches to treatment.