My 2 and a half year old girl flaps her hands....

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is this always a sign of autism or asperger?? This would basically be the only symptom she has. She is affective, makes eye contact with people, although she is shy with strangers. She talks (still a little baby talk) but she gets the message accross. The only thing would be the flapping when she wants something, when she gets exited, or when she gets angry...does this mean she is autistic?? She is not dead set on routines, in fact she doesn't have one set routine, every day tends to be different, somewhat, and she is ok with it...Please help, I am just worried sick with this....

No, it does not mean she is autistic. This is a stereotypical autistic trait but many neuro-typical people exhibit these traits. Because she has no other traits I would not worry one bit about it. Just love your daughter for the individual she is-quirks and all.

I wouldn't worry about it yet.

Some of the symptoms of ASDs look a lot like the symptoms of being a toddler.

If she is, it sounds like she's in the same camp as a lot of us-- so-called "high functioning" enough that diagnosis at this point could do her as much harm as good.

It's something to bear in mind, keep an eye on and a thought in the back of your head.

It's NOT something to worry yourself sick about.

Whether she has The Dreaded IT (and believe me, it's better than the media would have you believe) or not, love your little girl. Enjoy her. Mine are 10, 4-almost-5, 2-almost-3, and Due In June.

Note the fact that I AM diagnosed, and I'm still living life, raising kids, doing all kinds of stuff. I suffer and hurt-- so does everyone-- but I laugh and smile a lot, too.

So even if she is, she can still have a life (if stupid reactionary society will let her-- maybe we'll have discovered a cure for judgmentalism by the time she's grown up ) and enjoy quite a lot of it. Whether or no, enjoy your little girl. She sounds lovely, and these years go by WAY TOO FAST.

OK-- should have read your profile before I spouted the "It's not so bad, lady" line that I love so well.

You know all that stuff already.

Seriously-- don't jump the gun. Just love your baby.

Whenever anyone mentions hand-flapping as a symptom, I always think of beauty pageant winners. I can't imagine they are anything but NT, but the FIRST thing they do when they find out they're the winner is flap their hands.

Sometimes kids who flap their hands but exhibit no social symptoms have sensory needs - something to keep an eye out for, but nothing to worry about if there's nothing else going on.

It doesn't sound like she is on the spectrum. I hear that lot of toddlers flap their hands and arms. My son has done it sometimes and it never worried me. I have also seen him rock back and forth and bang his head sometimes. He is NT so far.

Thank all of you so very much!! Your observations make me feel a little less worried, but as you say, I will keep my eyes open...