My son was born a month or so early.. He was born normal and healthy. We came home for a day, then went for his follow up visit, where they said he had hypothermia. They sent us to the ER, where they admitted him and did blood work. They found STAPH bacteria, but didn't know if it was actually in his blood or on the surface of his skin when they entered, but wanted to keep him and treat him as if he had a full blown staph infection. They did a urinalysis and a spinal tap.. Everything came back okay. But they treated him for almost 2 1/2 weeks. We brought him home, and a week later he started screaming and crying day and night.. several trips to the doctors, they said colic or acid reflux.. after 9-10 months he calmed down a good bit.. Anyways.. He had his yearly check up, was meeting all the milestones up until that point. He was talking.. saying quite a few words and a couple 2 word phrases and had just started walking on his own. He had his immunizations that day and they sent us home. Later that night he came down with a fever, I gave him baby Tylenol.. A couple of days later, he got sick with a cold and pretty much stayed sick all winter long until the start of spring.. But over those months he changed a lot. He didn't completely stop talking, but he doesn't say much anymore.. he started doing odd things, spinning plastic plates and bowls on the floor.. Lining up shoes all over the house.. doing odd things with his hands, temper tantrums, shaking his head (which I thought was an ear infection months ago.. so I took him to see the doctor.. they said he was fine.. just a cold, it's viral.. and sent us home) He doesn't respond to his name.. He's never waved good bye or blew kisses or pointed at anything. He used to give us kisses, but lately that's been missing too. He's a loving little guy.. likes to cuddle and watch tv, runs around the house after his older brother, dad and I.. and sometimes the dog. He'll bring us pillows from the couch, or tupperware lids from the cupboard, or other things he gets into that he shouldnt have, and we tell him to give it to us.. Over the last week he started sticking his tongue out to the one side when he's playing.. Sort of rolling it around and twisting it.. We're scared and worried about him. He doesn't seem like the same little boy we once had. I had him to see the doctor at the beginning of the week, because we thought he may have an ear infection.. which he does this time, so he's on antibiotics for 10 days.. but the nurse said to schedule a physical in 2 weeks for him and then they'll refer him to get tested for autism. Does this sound typical of a child with autism? Or could it be because he was a preemie and is just behind?