Is My Son Autistic?

[hajakay]

I have a 15 months old whom I am very worried about. He has some behavior tha I think is consistent with that of an autistic child. Here is a list:
-He constantly flapps his hands
-toe walking
-does not point at objects
-does not look when I point at an object ( he just stares at my arm)
-does not initiate play
-poor eye contact
-scared of loud noices ( blender and vacuum, just those two but not other loud noices)
- likes to cover head with blanket
-like to stare into space
-screams loud out of no where
-hardly responds to name
-can only say less than 5 words
   I don't know if I am forgetting anything else. The symptoms keep adding as he gets older. I want to point out however that he is meeting most of his milestones. He can wave goodbye, walk, clapp, says a few words, play with other kids, cuddles, likes strangers ( he will yell to draw people attention, this happens everywhere we go), and he also likes to pretend as if the tv remote is a cell phone. He can also understand when I say no or tell him to stop, when I say lets go or come over here ect. He cries when I or his dad is leaving ( at the babysitters).
I dont' know if I should worry or not. Is it too early to worry? do normally developing kids do all those thing? will he grow out of them?
One more thing, is it normal for him to be constanly screaming or laughing at strangers all the time?
Thanks in advance
-hajakay

[Jenny_Penny]

Please make an appointment with your Early Intervention Team. This sounds like my grandson who was diagnosed at 14 months and he didn't have as many issues as you list. He is 4 now and is doing just great but he has had the benefit of early diagnosis and lots of therapy.

[Rachel Thompson, Ph.D., BCBA]

Some of the characteristics that you described are consistent with autism, but typically developing children can also act this way. I recommend that you begin by raising these concerns with your pediatrician, if you have not done so already. A diagnosis requires an in-person evaluation by a team of professionals with expertise in diagnosing autism spectrum disorders. Your pediatrician should be able to help you identify some local resources. With any developmental delays it is important to intervene as early as possilbe. So, I recommend that families share any concerns about development with their pediatrician.