CHICAGO -- Cases of autism are soaring across the country, but NBC5's Nesita Kwan reported Wednesday that the good news is that doctors are now able to diagnose autism earlier than ever before.

Visiting a recent session at Children's Memorial Hospital, Kwan said that to most observers, Rylan Cason looks like any other 2-year-old.

But both his parents see subtle differences between Rylan and other children.

"Rylan's not talking yet and not making eye contact," said his mother, Amberly.

Rylan's dad, Colby, told HealthWatch, "He would cover his ears a lot with his hands, which is a pretty predominant sign (of autism)."

The Casons know that all these behaviors can be signs of autism, but in children this young, only a specialist can be sure.

"Babies look at people. They like humor. They will laugh with you. They respond to your emotions," said Children's Memorial psychiatrist Dr. Kathleen McKenna. "So when a child isn't doing that, it is cause for concern."

In recent years, autism has skyrocketed. Some experts estimate that the condition has increased by 15 times in the past 10 years.

Better diagnosis is partly why, Kwan said. Children are now screened way before kindergarten. In years past, parents often didn't know until the child was in school or close to it.

"The older a child is, the more sure you can be of the disorder," McKenna said.

But that's changing, Kwan said.

One of the nation's leading institutes on developmental disabilities recently reported that doctors can now get a firm diagnosis by age 2, and experts say that's crucial, because autistic children improve the most when therapists intervene early.

"Children need to begin early while the brain is still very malleable and can change a lot," McKenna said.

Joe and Mary Ann Albert noticed early on that their adopted daughter Kianna wasn't gaining vocabulary.

"At nine months ... she said 'Mama.' And then by 10 or 11 months, she lost it," Mary Ann Albert said.

At first, the pediatricians told them not to worry.

"They said kids develop at different paces," Mary Ann Albert said. "I didn't buy it."

So they went to the specialists. At 18 months, Kianna was tentatively diagnosed with autism and the Alberts immediately began intervention. Now, Kianna is a lively 5-year-old.

"Oh, socially she just shines now. That's a huge area and she physically has gotten stronger," Kianna's mother said.

"One doctor feels she may be able to live a normal life, like get married, maybe not balance her checkbook, but maybe she could live a typical productive life," Joe Albert, Kianna's dad, said.

And the Casons hope to report the same thing as Rylan grows up with his diagnosis.

"He can progress a lot if we catch it early enough, so that's what we're trying to do," Amberly Cason said.

The Center For Disease Control has a special program called "Learn The Signs Early." For more, visit the CDC Web site or call 800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).