27 month old soon speech delay

[NMO12]

Hi, I am just looking for some shared experiences and advice.
My son is almost 27 months old and has a speech delay. I would say his vocabulary is approx 10 words. He’s never had regression, but also there has not been much progression.
He has met every other milestone and is very active and advanced physically, but his speech and understanding are delayed.
He uses gestures, however would hand point until he began finger pointing literally as he turned two. He has some understanding of certain things.
He sleeps and eats really well, has good eye contact, interested in other children, wants to play with us, smiles at us etc.
I have spoken to the health visitor and he has been referred for speech therapy, audiology and also has just started in a playgroup.
He is our only child and I do worry have I not done enough with interacting with other children as he has primarily been with us and grandparents on occasions.
I am finding it so hard seeing children his age talking (I know comparison is the thief of joy), but he his so bright & clever, I just feel like it’s just bit clicked for him yet.
We are considering a private hearing test to just exclude any issues with that, as there is a very long waiting list on the nhs. However, I do not feel there is a hearing problem with his hearing as responds to his name hears everything etc.
I’m just looking for any extra advice or if anyone has had any similar situation and what the outcomes were?
Thanks.

Sounds exactly like my son!
Him at age 32 month
we’ve done SALT, OT he learned some makaton
First word he had at age 28month

Preschool helped a lot in terms of communication and learning from other kids

reading and repeating words times 1000! 😂

sometimes it’s just takes longer for speech to bloom fully

Has the HV also referred you to Portage? If not, I’d ask for that today

Can I ask what age your son is now and how is speech is? Thanks ☺️

just to update - he has had a private hearing test which was normal. He is now almost 33 months - he primarily says the beginning of words, but is using more functional language such as eat, more, again, help etc however it is primarily the beginning of the words. He can recite the alphabet, count to 10 and backwards, name animals and their sounds. He loves reading books and now will point to characters and finish sentences of books we regularly read. I’d say we’re approx 70 words now. We are just about to start a block of speech therapy. He does get frustrated with his speech delay, but I do feel there is also a bit of an understanding delay, which I guess does go hand in hand. He has settled so well in his playgroup, but his speech delay is noticeable with his peers. He’s very, bright and incredibly busy and active. Not sure what I’m looking for really, but some similar experiences and what the outcomes have been would be great. Thanks