Autism is a developmental disorder that sparks changes in the way people communicate, connect, and move. Symptoms look different from person to person, so the issues you might see in one child, you might not notice in another. Communication issues are common in autism. People might not talk at all, or they might have unusual speech patterns. They might engage in repeated movements, such as flapping their hands or rocking. Some people might shy away from physical touch or eye contact. Doctors usesigns like this to diagnose autism. The more a person has, the higher the autism likelihood.