DGS (20months) doesn’t speak - at all.
At best he babbles like a baby half his age would.
At first we all put it down to the usual ‘he’ll speak soon’ ‘boy’s tend to talk later so don’t worry’ and hear stuff like ‘my son didn’t say a word til he was 2’ ‘Einstein had delayed speech’ etc etc
At 18 months, she rang the health visitor, who just suggested more picture books, more reading to him (all these things were being done) and to ring back if no improvement by 20 months.
She rang back weds and HV has put DGS on list to receive help via a support worker, with a view to referral to Speech and Language at 24 months
Not sure how long waiting list is.
Now, I know all of this sounds positive! However, I am more concerned about his understanding rather than his speech.
We pretty much know what he wants without words as he will take our hands, or bring us things. He has just started getting his shoes when we ask and he will go to his cot when DD and her DP say it’s bed time.
But he doesn’t point to his eyes or head etc when asked, he doesn’t seem to understand ‘where’s your ball, car, dolly, cup’. When you call him, he only responds occasionally.
He’s sociable, happy, loving, seems to have just started role play (ie pretend drinking from tea set), sleeps well, runs, kicks a ball (all gross motor skills are spot on as are fine motor skills)
He can point and wave but has only done them occasionally and the pointing has been random (i.e not as in ‘look! There’s an aeroplane!’
I came across a test for Autism called m-chat and he scores as ‘high risk’.
I have suspected this for a while but have been reluctant to say anything to DD as I don’t want her to feel offended or that I am interfering.
She did say a long time ago that she thought there was something wrong with him and got a hearing test done which was fine. She felt reassured he wasn’t deaf and is obviously pleased the HV is now involved re the lack of speech.
She’s now convinced he’ll start talking with this help (which of course he may do!) but I am not sure she is aware of how behind he is with his receptive language as she knows his needs and responds accordingly.
If I say anything she’ll say ‘you worry too much!’ (I do 
!) but if I don’t, and he is diagnosed with a significant developmental delay later she may ask if I suspected it and why didn’t I tell her!
Also, obviously she will feel upset when a receptive language delay is diagnosed and I want to know how to help her move forward in a positive way whilst feeling upset myself!
My nephew is severely autistic and we have all seen the struggles my sister has/does have.
