Hand flapping

[lucilastic]

Ok, I'm a bit worried about my 27 month old DD. She's generally a very happy little girl but is not really speaking yet. She has been referred for a hearing test (although refused to co-operate with that last week and has another date) and to speech therapy.
She has some strange mannerisms...flaps her hands a bit (not loads) and sometimes runs round in circles.
She has good eye contact, is very affectionate and is content.
Could she be displaying autistic signs? She has an elder sister (almost 4) who never shuts up.
Does anyone elses toddlers do this? She is not at nursery yet but goes to a few playgroups where she is not especially interested in other toddlers but is not afraid or shy of them either.
Any thoughts? I am doing all I can to bring on her speech, lots of one to one time when my older one is at school and we are awaiting the speech therapy appointment.
Would anyone else be worried?

Hi there, not sure as I don't know your DD. You can ask to be referred to a paediatrician. When are you seeing the speech therapist?

It is impossible to say really. Hand flapping and poor speech could be indicators but they may mean nothing.
Push for the speech therapy.
Fwiw ds2 has good eye contact and is affectionate but is very autistic. But he has many other behaviours.

It may all be fine but push to find out - the sooner the better with all therapies.....

Her SALT appintment isn't till 22/11.

She is saying a few words, maybe 5-10 but not consistently.
Could auutsim be diagnosed this early?

My DS was diagnosed at 3. I asked for advice when he was 2.5 and was fobbed off. I really regret this now. (Not that it made a huge difference but I could have got the wheels in motion quicker if I had been more persistent).
Anyhoo, see what the speech therapist has to say but meanwhile I would ask for an appointment with the community paediatrician as this may take a bit of time. This will put your mind at ease. Keep us posted!

Hi, no personal experience but some professional and I know someone who was diagnosed at 19 months so yes, is sometimes possible and although could benothing, worth getting checked for your peace of mind if nothing else.

I am worried she's going to get labelled prematurely. At the failed hearing test they offered a referral to a paed consultant but I declined.
Perhaps I should have accepted? She's so young and seems very happy.

DD was doing similar at that age - I did ask for an assessment and was told that it was very common at that age, but as DS has ASD she did have an assessment - she grew out of it - 6yo and NT now

why do you need to know? surely there is no cure? if she seems happy enough why rush to get her labelled and involved in all sorts of tests etc.. just let her be?

That's what my instinct tells me NordicPrincess.
She is a happy child and I don't want to subject her to a barrage of tests and investigations.
I am obviously hoping her speech will improve soon but in the meantime I feel speech therapy will benefit her more than anything and am going to let her be.
Thank you.