22 month old concern

[Hye123]

My DS is 22 months. We have a few concerns as his not speaking any formal words. He babbles a lot and makes loads of noises and sometimes we feel his saying a word but it’s not definitive.
He did watch cartoons when he was younger, two months ago we stopped that and the baby dummy, advised by the HV. Since then we noticed he started to respond to his name and made eye contact a bit more. Lately we’ve always started taking him to play centre. We’ve noticed that he has an obsession with the wheels of a car, lights too. We suspect autism. Due to him not speaking, not always responding and not always listening. Even eye contact. It’s not always and sometimes it’s limited. When we sing and play and show him affectionate, he shows good eye contact. And majority of the time he’ll listen.
He does a few instructions we tell him and his getting used to. But still no words and he doesn’t interact much with kids but with us at home he does. Also he has a new sibling recently born, who he likes. He hugs him and watches him Cry. He does recognise emotion and loves peak a boo and hide and seek. His already on a waiting list for the 2 year assessment and speech assessment.
Any advice/ reassurance. (Sorry for the long post)

My DS (now 13) was EXACTLY like that and that age. I took him to the HV and GP because compared to my friends children, at the exact same age, he seemed very behind.

He didn't speak a single word
Didn't wave
Didn't clap hands
Didn't really point
Didn't want to do singing time at toddler groups
Used to just enjoy lining up cars in a row
Got upset if his routine differed
Wasn't interested at all in his baby sister, like she wasn't even there

And probably lots more that I've forgotten

They sent him for a hearing test and to see a speech therapist to start with but nothing came of it.

One he hit 2 years old he just seemed to flourish. By the time he started school he was exactly the same as everyone else.

I would speak to your health visitor and see what they say.

Aha I see, DS likes to clap and does show interest it’s just he sometimes just wonders in his own world. HV and staff at the play centre think his young and are telling us to interact more. So we’ve implemented a routine and are singing more. Hopefully it makes a difference. It’s heartbreaking when I see the other kids who talk when ours can’t even say mama or dada. Hopefully it gets better. Just wanted to see how common this is and if it is always autism. They said they’ll only start doing assessments when his 2. By then I wish there’s a big change

He's young, walking at one talking at two is the old adage.

Dts didn't talk for ages, a week after second birthday they started taint properly in full sentences.

My DNepphew didn't speak until he was 3, he was taken for speech therapy etc. One day he just started talking, since then he hasn't shut up . He apparently just didn't speak until he was ready, he did speak really well as soon as he started, no babbling just normal words. Your DS is only little, give him time.

Try not to worry. My daughter is just 4. At 19 months she didn't even say Mama or Dada. I had friends telling me to sign up for speech therapy because there was a long wait. When she did start talking she spoke in full paragraphs! People comment on mature conversations now, and she was telling me all about photosynthesis this morning! I think her learning style is that she just likes to wait until she can do something competently before she does it! Totally different to my son, who you can see learning, trying and practising things a lot more. I don't think you should worry too much at this age.

I think you will get lots of people reassuring you, but it’s ok to be worried. Some kids who show these signs at 22 months don’t have problems later and some do. For those who do, it’s not always helpful to here all about the kids who turned out fine. For now you’re doing everything you can and if you still have concerns in a couple of months, you can chase them up.

Thanks, for some of the personal experience. I just feel how when I add these things up for example; no speech (baby language only) no pointing, eye contact being just ‘ok’. Listening is getting a bit better and fascination on wheels it scares me thinking autism. He is the first little child in the family, so that could be a reason for his lack of development. Hopefully more singing interacting, playcenters will do the job.

My niece doesn't talk properly and after pushing for testing it turns out she is partially deaf which to our shock got missed! I don't see how tbh. She now has hearing aids and has started saying so much more. It's just a shame she is behind when this could have been done a lot sooner for her :(