Is this autism

My youngest son (2 years old) has always been strange.... i know that sounds mean but that is the only way i can sum it up.  He does the strangest stuff.  He is always doing this crazy hand movement thing in his face... and if you pick him up he'll do it in your face.  He is always plugging his ears.  He is just now starting to allow brief affection. (we are a very affectionate family.) I admit I am always forcing hugs and kisses.  He absolutly will not look me in the eyes for more than a second.  95% of the pictures of him are of him turned away.  He was a perfect baby.  (besides the 2 months of frequent spit up and colick) breast milk was too thin... he was better with thicker milk..?  Anyways... now at two it is getting tough.. he rarely listens.... (his hearing was checked at age one- we thought he may be deaf).  I will yell his name and he still wont turn to look. (sometimes i guess) but rarely- may be a coincidence???.  If i say specifically "do not do that"  lots of times he will just do it anyways- redirection works half of the time.  Time outs are consistant (but don't phase him).  He demands his routine. He can say mam, dad, elmo, duck, sonq (song), spi (for spiderman), and all the other words if you think hard enough can sound like words.  The only thing he can say that is putting more than one word together is wi wi west.  He loves movies (if we say no, no more tv, he will go up and turn it on and put a tape in.)  He does not play with toys (although he will hold one and only one), he does not play with kids even though he goes to a montessori school and ther is 12 kids in his class, and he has trouble with being rough.  

[Jason C Bourret, Ph.D., BCBA-D]

We frequently get questions about diagnosing children.  The types of behavioral patterns you are seeing are consistent with an autism-spectrum-disorder diagnosis.  It is impossible to stress enough the importance of early intensive intervention and, thus the importance of early diagnosis.  I strongly recommend that you have your child evaluated, your pediatrician, local hospital, or school district should be able to refer you to someone qualified to make the diagnosis.  A first step is often a conversation with a pediatrician who I expect will start with a hearing test and then refer you on if further testing is necessary.

[amanda651]

oh and the biggest stressor of all with his behavior..... he is a flight risk.  Doesn't matter where we are ( he will run into a dark woods.  or if we are leaving the house- he runs down the driveway strait to the street)  I have tried explaining why we don't run into the street.  Most times i swear he cannot hear me.

[Sally44]

As you have concerns I think you should raise them with his paediatrician and ask for a multi team evaluation.  
As you have posted here you are obviously concerned about autism.  But you need your son to be observed and assessed before a professional can make that decision.  When you ask for assessments, make sure you ask for professionals who are experienced in diagnosing this disorder.
'Appearing deaf', doesn't have to mean he has a hearing problem.  I presume you have had his hearing checked out.   With my son, who is on the autisic spectrum, it is a case of his 'attention' being focused so much on something that he basically doesn't hear anything I say.
As your son is 2, his social interaction skills should be starting to emerge.  But having him assessed is good at such a young age, because if there is something going on whether it is autism or something else, then the sooner he begins therapies and gets supports the better the outcome.
If you go onto the autism forum, and click on the Health Page icon I have posted the diagnositic criteria for autism and aspergers.  This lists the behavioural characteristics that the professionals are looking for.  Parents have also added examples of their own childrens' behaviour that fits the criteria so that may help you understand what the professionals will be looking for in your son.