Editor's note: You can follow the Bilsons' progress on CNN American Morning 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. through February 4. Mary Bilson tries to contain her autistic daughter Marissa's tantrum, as Marissa's brother Brendan looks on. Seal Beach, CALIFORNIA (CNN) -- The Bilson family is like many other families: three kids, a cat, and a small, lovely home with lots of family photos and carved wooden wall signs with sayings like "Live, Laugh, Love." But step inside their house after 4 p.m. most weekdays and you'll want to cover your ears because of the noise -- the screaming, to be exact. These are not the shouts of sibling rivalry or parental annoyance. This is the high-pitched, ear-shattering sound of a 13-year-old girl. More accurately, it is the sound of a frustrated, irritated, very loud teenager with autism.
@highlight
CDC: Autism and related disorders affect one out of every 150 children
@highlight
Each autistic child is unique in his or her behavior, but there are common threads
@highlight
Social skills, communication are common problem areas
@highlight
Marissa screams, throws tantrums -- behavior her family hopes to change
It was OK when she was much younger, but now that she's going to be an adult soon, she can't be behaving this way," @placeholder says with tired resignation.