sould i be worried about autism

[violinist224]

Everyone said that i am just parenoid but i am wondering about my son who just turned 2year old.  He has hit all the mile stones on time and even more than that.  knows numbers 1-10 and know many body parts and so on.  sometimes when he gets mad he flapps his arms.  he get really mad if i said no but i do think that is temper tantrums(he falls to the floor and kicks and screams).  and sometime when i call his name he does not look at me and keeps doing what he is doing like he does not hear me.  he loves to draw and color.  when we what televison and a comercial is on he gazes out other wise he does not really pay attention to the tv and plays with his toys. he is an only child so far and when he is around his cousins he plays with them or by himself he really does not care.  also when he talks sometime i can not understand him but he does talk some and knows please/thank you/ and says your welcome.  i hear so many people 2 year olds that talk really well and i just cannot understand him very well. I hope i am just parenoid but i did not know if you can help me.  my husband says i am over reacting ever since we started talking about it in class since i am going for my special education teaching license.  please let me know i really hope you can help me out.
thank you

[Jane949]

Follow your gut and have him evaluated!!  The earlier the better.  I had some of the same concerns about my son at this age.  I repeatedly asked his pediatrician and she said I had nothing to worry about. But I knew something was a little "off."   I followed my gut and had him evaluated by regional center. Turns out he had "red Flags" for developing Autism!
I live in Ornage County and thankfully we have an amazing Early Intervention Program for children under the age of 3.  He qualified for 5 hours per week of Speech, Behavior and OT therapy.  It ended up getting bumped to 15 /hours per week, which I know sounds like a lot, but it changed my son's life.  I truly think the therapists had a profound impact on my son. At his IEP meeting at three he didn't qualify for the special ed preschool.  He is now 4 years old and doing wonderfully. He is totally "typical," has many friends and is so social.  I feel that he has gained wonderul coping skills and his behavior is amazing!  
My thoughts going into deciding to have him evaluated were,"It can't hurt him."  I know it is scary, but do it. I truly believe if I hadn't intervened and got him that therapy, he would be a totally different child.  
I hope this insight helps!  Good luck~

[nitsrik]

You know your child. If something doesn't quite seem right - seek help and don't give up. My daughter is 8 yrs old and since i can remember i have thought there was something not so. Unfortunately I have not had any diagnoses even after visiting CAMS they told my that she suffered high levels of anxiety and would benefit from play therapy. Why is she so anxoius - why will she not speak to anybody - what is the problem. School is a nightmare and I am a regular face there trying to find out what the problem is why my daughter is ill over the thought of going to school and why it terrifies her so much. I still have no answers but will not give up. It is my job as her mother to help make her life as stress free and enjoyable as possible - even though i do seem like a paranoid mother to the school and doctors. When will anybody ever listen. Sorry got a bit side tracked there, as I was saying - if you think there is a problem, keep on at anyone who will listen.

[Rachel Thompson, Ph.D., BCBA]

Your description of your son's behavior is not consistent with autism, which is characterized by social and language deficits as well as repetitive behavior. But, if you have any concerns about your son's development, please share those with your pediatrician.

[Sally44]

He is just at the age when he should be starting to get more social, so you need to keep a watch on that.
If you think he is delayed in his speech then having him assessed by a Speech and Language Therapist won't do him any harm, and if he does need some extra help then he will be getting it from a very early age, which is also good because the earlier any therapies start they have a better chance of making good progress.
Children with autism do throw tantrums like you mention, but so do other 2/3 year olds.  The thing that is more noticeable is that, obviously it becomes age inappropriate when they are still doing it as they get older.  But it is usually around change or stopping/ starting things ie. if I had to turn off the TV to go out my son would get very upset, because he needs to see the TV programme to the end.  Their tantrums also 'seem' out of proportion to the thing that upset them.  So it appears like an over reaction.
Changes in routine can upset them or changes in expectations ie. if you said you were going to the supermarket, but then remembered you needed petrol and went to the petrol station first, then a child with autism might get upset by that.
There are also alot of sensory issues.  So, as you say they can appear deaf when you call their name, yet at other times they demonstrate acute hearing, or they may cover their ears at sudden unpredictable noise, or if you put the vaccum cleaner on.  They can be touch sensitive and complain that they have been hurt when they have only been touched or they can appear to feel no pain.  They may prefer certain types of fabrics, with tags removed, because otherwise it hurts their skin.  They can have problems around putting on socks and shoes.  They may complain about smells or tastes or textures, or appear to be unable to smell or like to taste non-food items.  They may also have problems with balance and co-ordination.  These sensory differences fluctuate between hyper and hypo sensitive throughout the day and day to day.  
Socially they may appear uninterested in other children, or they may appear to want to join in but don't seem to know how.  Or if they do join in they can't understand the rules of the game or what is expected of them.
They can have some imagination, but certain types of imagination may be poor or missing.  Google theory of mind to see what that is, as most children on the spectrum have difficulties with that.
There can also be certain repetitive behaviours of mannerisms such as flapping (which is suspected of being a sensory thing), or spinning round, walking on tip toes, following lines on the floor, walking up and down or round in circles.
The only way that a diagnosis can be given is through observations and assessments.  So if you are really concerned, then the first stage would be to go to your GP and express your concerns and ask for him to be referred to a Speech and Language Therapist.