(BPT) - Each April for the past four decades, National Autism Awareness Month has elevated awareness among the children, parents and friends affected by autism spectrum disorders.

One in 88 children in the U.S. is affected by autism, Asperger’s or Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition to these already staggering statistics, the CDC reports that one in every 98 African American children is diagnosed with autism with a 1.6 year delay in diagnosis when compared to white children.

Parents tend to overlook the early signs of autism spectrum disorders, assuming their child is “just going through a phase” or “having an off day.” It is important that parents differentiate these assumptions from the symptoms, which can present in many different forms.