When should I worry about delayed speech or possible autism in a toddler?

[newmum202410]

when should you be worried if you toddler has autism?

little boy is 19months
he walks
he crawls
he eats well
he responses to his name
if I say come here he can
look at this he will

but he doesn't talk
he shouts makes a ton of noise lol but no words
you can have a back and fourth with him but 0 words make sense.

I've research autism. Not talking is a sign amd "happy hands" he does do that but wen his excited about something- like I've said lunch or bath time.

I don't know if hes just late to the talking game or if he is autistic.

everyone tells me babys are different but im sure 90% have said a word by 19months. everyone one i speak to says wait see if he does hes just slow etc but how long should you wait?

my first bubba for context!

any one else had this or any advice welcome!

How does he get on with this ASQ?

https://www.wchc.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20-month-questionnaire-ASQ-3-BE-Av.-1-1.15.pdf

everything on communication is not yet
the rest he is doing except the two lines 😂
loves stacking bricks - can eat with spoon- turns pages books- big fan of climbing on anything.

I'd pass on your results to the HV and see if you can push for a referral

HV? Health visitor
so he is ? there's no answers or range on the form

I don’t think it is an absolute that your DS has ASD at all, but I would speak to the HV too as he’s not speaking yet. The scoring for that Ages & Stages is here

You’ll need a referral for a hearing test as Glue Ear can cause speech delay.

The HV might not want to refer him to SaLT but if not, ask if there are any local groups that she can refer you to for DC with speech delay. Around here we have a couple run by the HVs and a SaLT.

If she doesn’t want to refer him yet I would ask that she sees him
again in 2 months to monitor his progress.

I would also do this progress checker before talking to your HV. If it says that he needs some support you can book an appointment with one of their SaLTs. It’s free but as they’re a charity you might want to make a donation.

They also have some really good resources on their website that you can use to try and encourage speech

How is his understanding of language, although 19 months is on the later side for saying a first word, in context of autism their language processing is much more of an indicator. You said he understands come here, do you feel he understands familiar words like ‘lunch time’ ‘let’s read some books’ ‘grandmas here’ etc etc.

I would go for the hearing test and maybe speech therapy but he’s not ringing autism bells for me. Also the stimming is common in all babies and toddlers in different ways, it’s only really an autism trait if it continues beyond this age.

Understanding is more important than speech at the moment. Does he point? Wave? Does he look at you to gauge your reaction or to share enjoyment? Does he understand if you asked him to get his shoes/toy etc

Try to teach him simple signs, milk, more, eat, etc