22 month old not talking

[Westmidsmum1]

My son is 22 months old and still not talking and I'm getting increasingly worried. I'm sure by now he should be saying a few words at least. He will repeatedly say baba but the rest of the time just babbles. I know of people with children younger than my son and their children are speaking in full sentences and I feel like he's really falling behind. The more I look into it the more I keep seeing that it's a sign of autism and I'm just so worried. Does anyone think it might be time to contact a health visitor about this? & has anyone been through anything similar? Thank you x

Been through similar.... Still going through it. We spoke to a speech and language when he was about 18 months.

They told us to sit in front of him with a ball and roll it back and forth and to engage with him, they also told us to repeat the babble bit for bit. you sound like a mad woman but it does help.

I still have concerns and DS is 3 but focusing on what he could do and building on that helps.

Autism is not a speech disorder, a toddler with autism might have poor speech, normal speech or advanced speech at 22M. Though, a toddler younger than 22M speaking in sentences? wow, that must really be a rare.... to me that would point more to autism than a toddler with no words at all at 22M.

Hi @Westmidsmum1 try not to worry but I would say yes, it’s time to contact your HV. I raised concern at my DD’s 2 year review and the HVs took notice and didn’t dismiss my concerns at that point. NHS speech therapy waiting lists are very long so I would try and get a referral now (via HV or GP) The first thing they will advise you do is get his hearing tested so it’s worth booking an appt with you GP too to get the ball rolling with that.