As a parent what are the tell tale signs your child isn't processing the world like other people?
It could be lack of eye contact, inability to follow instructions, or communicate effectively.
For Dr Rasika Rampithage she already had the training to look for those signs in her profession.
But at home, when her young daughter Amayawas having behavioural issues, Dr Rampithage knew, like other mothers, she needed specialist support.
IMAGE: AMAYA COMMUNICATES THROUGH HER ART AND HER YOUTUBE CHANNEL WHICH SHE LEARNT TO USE HERSELF.
Amaya was diagnosed with having both ADHD and autism, and her parents then began the process of tuning home and school life to play to her strengths.
So begins the journey facing thousands of Australian families when one or more of their children are displaying behaviours that put them at odds with their peer group.
Life Matters resident doctor Ranjana Srivastava looks at the case study of Amaya through the eyes of her mother and Dr Katrina Harris, Head of Developmental Paediatrics at Monash Children's Hospital.