20 month old functional speech

[speechworries23]

Hoping to hear from someone who has had a similar experience.
My DD has just turned 20 months and she said her first word around 18 months. She has maybe 15 words now but they are all nouns like car, bus. My worry is that she has no functional language at all, she doesn’t use language to ask for things or to communicate, she doesn’t say yes, no, mama, dada, up, more… she also sometimes does things like she’ll put the tv remote in my hand if she wants the tv on, rather than trying to ask verbally. She does understand and follow basic instructions, it’s mainly her expressive communication that worries me.
We’ve had 1 appointment with SLT who didn’t seem concerned but I wasn’t that impressed by the whole appointment so don’t feel very reassured by that.
Anyone been in a similar boat?

How does she use the words she has? If she's saying 'bus!' when you're out and looking to you for a reaction to show that you've also seen the (very exciting!) bus, then I'd count that as functional communication. If she only uses them to, say, sit and label her toys/things in a book, nothing to do with other people, that would concern me more (but a mix of the two I'd assume was just her practicing on her own as well as with people).

How much does she gesture? If she can nod/shake her head for yes/no, put her arms up to be lifted, point at something to get it/get more of it, then perhaps saying those words has just been less of a priority.

She mainly just uses her words to label things as she explores, she sometimes whole hand gestures to whatever is it (eg bus). She finger points to things closer up like in a book.
As for communicating with gestures, not really…. she will put her hands up when I say I’m going to pick her up but she won’t ask to be picked up in the same way IYSWIM. Doesn’t nod or shake her head, doesn’t point to ask for things really… writing it down is making me realise she probably does have a delay :(

Yes, I think I'd be following up with HV/GP/SLT or whomever you can, stressing the lack of functional communication via gestures as well as not using words that way. I think pointing (both to ask for things and show you something interesting) is considered late after 18 months, for example, and I think lifting arms to ask to be picked up and shaking/nodding head usually come a bit earlier. How long ago did you see the SLT?

It might be helpful to look at the 20 month Ages and Stages Questionnaire (https://www.socfc.org/SOHS/Disabilities%20Mental%20Health/ASQ/ASQ%203%2020%20Months.pdf has the scoring at the back). Sometimes health professionals will take it more seriously then – I suppose it makes it more evidence-based. You could also potentially look at the MCHAT screening questionnaire or the 'social emotional' ASQ (https://www.socfc.org/SOHS/Disabilities%20Mental%20Health/ASQ/ASQ%20SE%2018%20Months.pdf) as those both consider gestures and other nonverbal communication, but neither is really focused on just an expressive communication delay.