Autism 21 months

[Momma27272]

Hi, I am concerned about some of my child's behaviour and after some advice.
He was late to clap at 16 months.
Just started waving occasionally at night when he goes to bed at 21 months
Says no words and if i do an action or day a word, just looks blankly, very occasionally may copy action. Does babble but did start babbling a lot of gibberish and baby conversation a few weeks ago and now this has stopped with just occasional babbling again now.
Worrying?
Understands certain tasks, 'put it in the bin', 'get your drink', 'brush your hair' 'get your shoes on'
Can point to some body parts but difficult to get him to sit and concentrate to do it.
Will run in circles around his toys a few times a day but wouldn't say its constant.
Has started emptying his bath toys out the holder and then putting them all back in again then empty again and back again , repeatedly the last week but not playing with them.. worrying?
Has good eye contact and answers name. Will occasionally roll his eyes while eating ?unsure why.
Will point to what he wants and things of interest.
If he's hungry, will go to snack cupboard and bang the cupboard for a biscuit pr hand lead me to the cupboard. If he wants the TV on, will get the remote and put it in my hand.
Not sure if I'm over thinking all this, but I can tell he is speech delayed from his peers and just worried he is showing other signs of autism so would like other opinions as he is my first child.
Waiting on a hearing test and have Health visitor check up on Friday.
Sorry for the essay, feel like I need to talk to someone.

There are quite a few things that you describe that mean he is communicating well with you, so that is a positive.
The emptying and filling thing sounds like a schema which quite a lot of children do, both those with autism and those without.

Does he go to Nursery pr toddler groups where there are other children? Or, perhaps helpfully, practitioners who are used to working with children of that age?
It is impossible for anyone on the internet to say, just from a description of course.
Ask the HV if he can be referred for a hearing test if she doesn't suggest it herself. The fact he is communicating but not saying anything yet - that would be the first thing to get done.
Different authorities will have different routes after that. Where I am, they won't accept any referrals until a child is over 30months.
We do however have excellent advice lines staffed by Speech and Language Therapists who can give you all sorts of advice. Might be worth asking the HV if there is anything like that in your area. There is also huge amounts of SaLT videos on-line now which might also be helpful.

Does he point, and will he look at you to see if you're looking at where he's pointing? Does he follow your point?

Yes to all those questions

Thank you for your reply.
He does go to nursery but only once a week so not sure if it's enough for them to evaluate him properly but il ask them.
Just been reading up about emptying and filling schema and it does say normal child development so that's reassuring, thank you for that. I think I'm just over analysing everything he is doing.
Waiting on hearing test appointment and have booked a phone call with a speech and language therapist. Thank you.
Over 30 months? That's interesting. I wonder if too many children were being referred these days.
Thank you so much for your help

@NewName24

@UglyBetty82yes to all those questions

Hi x
any updates please ?

Slight speech delay but catching up. No other concerns and now developing normal. No signs of Autism, I think I was just overly concerned because of the speech