A: There are a number of symptoms reported by parents that should be red flags for pediatricians. You should evaluate a child for autism, if the parents report that the child:

• Does not respond to his/her name

• Cannot tell what he/she wants

• Has language delay(s)

• Doesn’t follow directions

• Appears deaf at times

• Seems to hear sometimes, but not others

• Doesn’t point or wave bye-bye

• Used to say a few words, now doesn’t

• Has tantrums

• Has odd movement patterns

• Is hyperactive, uncooperative, or oppositional

• Doesn’t know how to play with toys

• Gets stuck on things over and over

• Doesn’t smile socially

• Seems to prefer to play alone

• Gets things for him/herself

• Is very independent

• Does things “early”

• Has poor eye contact

• Is in his/her “own world”

• Tunes people out

• Is not interested in other children

• Walks on his or her toes

• Has unusual attachments to toys or other unusual objects (i.e., always holding a certain toy or saving or holding string)

• Lines things up