Nearly 3yo speech and odd habit

[Ted0301]

My DD is coming up 3yo, she doesn’t speak, she’s under SALT, there’s been mention of autism.
She has excellent understanding, points, claps, waves etc, does as she’s asked, follows simple commands. She’s hyper mobile so was late crawling and walking (19 months walking) she was also late with pretend play.
I’m just wondering if anyone else had a late talker? And how longer before they started speaking? Any tips on helping them develop? We have books, flash cards etc.

Her odd habit is difficult to explain she’s done it since she was about 6 months old, where she will pull on her clothes and go into what I can only describe as a trance/slight wiggle, she did/does it in her high chair, about a year ago she stopped doing it (more or less) but has recently started again, but doing it in her car seat, sat on a chair or even just the floor. Again anyone else child do this or similar?

Not had the trance but DD was a similar late talker and is being assessed fir ASD.

Is your DD under a Paediatrician?

@bunnyRuddington she was but got discharged, the speech therapist is referring her again.

@BunnyRuddington how old was your little one when they started talking? How old are they now?

She started on the week of her 3rd birthday but did have some input from SLT the year after. Interestingly her speech got much better once she had glasses and could read.

@BunnyRuddington aww brilliant 😊 thank you.

If she has "excellent understanding, points, claps, waves etc, does as she’s asked, follows simple commands" I am astonished that autism has been mentioned as autism is not a speech disorder - speech delays in isolation are a very poor predictor for autism.

speech delay is not an indicator of Autism.
Have you had her hearing checked recently ? even slightly blocked ears can affect speech as they cant hear every syllable

@simonisnotme her speech therapist has just put a referral in for her to get her hearing checked. So hopefully won’t be long.