MIL has just returned from visting BIL and his family (DH's brother, they live overseas). BIL's youngest is around 18 months old. We have not seen him for a little while and MIL said she was a bit worried about his development but was not sure whether or not to say anything to BIL/SIL (who are very laid back people). I think she is worried about ASD. On the one hand, she does not want to worry/offend them given he is so young (and she has just seen a snapshot). On the other hand, she has done a bit of googling and read that the earlier the intervention the better. So she has asked for my advice. I have no experience of this so thought I would ask here.
Basic issue is that he does not have any words at all at 18 months and only makes 2 or 3 consonant sounds (not including mama or dada). Even with the sounds he has, his babbling is only occasional. What particularly worries her is that she is sure that last time she some him he was babbling a lot more and making more sounds (and we saw him May last term and I am pretty sure he was babbling a fair amount then). He is also very quiet/well behaved and she says it can be quite hard to engage him and get him to smile/giggle etc. I am sure there is a bit more, but those are the main things that have got her a bit worried. She says she spent quite a lot of time talking to him and trying to get him to repeat sounds, but thinks BIL may have been getting a bit cross about it (eg takign it as a criticisim of DN).
BIL has not mentioned any concerns to DH. I wonder if the possibility of a hearing test should be raised (MIL does not think it is that but at least it is a way into a conversation).
Any thoughts?