I can't tell if my 15 month old has autism or not?

He points, but with the middle finger of his right hand. He makes very quick eye contact. He is not saying any words, but does babble. He rocks back and forth when sitting, and from side to side when standing. He is infatuated with the TV. Especially Blues Clues. He smiles rarely, and seems more grumpy than anything. When his father tries to be with him, he screams and reaches for me. He cries more than anything and continuously fights his sleep. When I ask for kisses or hugs, he acts as if I'm not even there. He also does this when he's watching TV. He was born with a left clubfoot, so I expected some delays in development, but I'm getting worried. Am I just over-reacting?
Answer:
Your son may have two very different problems. I don't think that he's 'autistic' but he may have Asberger's Syndrome, which is like a lesser form of Autism. He also has a 'much bigger' problem ... a 'helicopter mom' ... because MOST of 'what is wrong with him' is that you are 'seriously OVER-MOTHERING him. The fact that you said you 'expected some delays in development' are the 'clue' that tells me you are 'over-mothering' your son. He has a 'club foot' which should make it 'a bit harder' for him to learn to walk and run ... but would not have any 'impact' on his 'social skills' and 'cognitive learning processes' ... Your son rocks 'side to side' when standing because of that club foot ... it's a bit 'harder for him' to 'find his balance' than for people with two 'good feet' ... and he's rocking 'back and forth' when sitting, for the same reason, only he's not 'using his club foot' for balance, so the 'rocking behavior' changes directions. Some children talk very early (my first son spoke in clear sentences when he was 9 months old) and others talk 'later' ... my second son evidently 'knew how to talk' but didn't until he said his first words to his grandmother on his second birthday ... "I love you, Grandma!" My second son has Asberger's Syndrome, but he's grown now, and is 'very successful' doing something he 'really loves' which is working for a 'fast food place' ... he's not 'flipping burgers' but is now the 'regional manager' for 50 different restaurants. He's only 25 years old!
So ... what do you NEED to do? First, limit the TV time for your son to ONE HALF HOUR A DAY. Give him things like 'blocks' that 'stick together' and 'tinker toys' and other 'building sets' to play with. You can expect to have to go in and 'shake him gently' when it comes time to eat, because he'll 'get lost' in what he's building and really 'won't hear you' (he can hear properly, though, this is just a 'symptom' of Asberger's) ... and you should 'leave him by himself' more (you must be in the house, of course, and should always be 'listening' for him, but otherwise leave him alone to play) ... and you should 'get out of the house' when his dad is home so that his dad can 'listen for him' and can become more 'safe' to your son. As for the 'kisses and hugs' ... stop 'asking' for them ... but 'insist' on giving and getting hugs from both you and his dad when he goes to sleep at night, and when he gets up in the morning. By making this 'intimacy' part of his 'routine' you are 'helping him adjust' to what 'more normal people do' ...
Second, you should take your son to a GOOD 'University Program' for 'testing' ... not just for Asberger's Syndrome, but for 'intelligence' ... because most kids with Asberger's Syndrome are actually GENIUS LEVEL IQ, and not 'retarded' or 'slow' at all. The 'concentration' level is 'higher than most' and that is the 'worst' of Asberger's ...
When your son is about 2-1/2 you should get him into a good 'daycare' program at least 4 hours long, 3 days a week. This will help 'socialize' your son, and will help when he is ready to go to 'real school' ... and you must DEMAND that he be kept in 'regular or accelerated classes' and not tracked with the 'slower special education' children ... your son is NOT SLOW, he's just got a 'syndrome' that makes him 'a bit different' ... and TELL HIM REGULARLY that to you he is 'very special' because he's 'so good at concentrating' and so 'studious' ... and he's also VERY SMART ... 'way too smart for you to keep up' ...

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