19 months and won't speak around strangers

[dampsquib94]

Is this a typical "phase" they go through? LO is 19 months and will NOT speak to anybody, even us, around anyone unfamiliar. This has been going on for two or three months now. We've already been referred for early help due to concerns around (mild) signs of autism or potential ADHD, though I know the latter can't be diagnosed until school age really. GP commented yesterday that we need to "keep an eye" on this, so naturally I've spent the last day reading dozens of posts and articles about what it could be! Would a speech therapy assessment be appropriate in these circumstances? My inclination is to let it alone for a couple of months and see if it is outgrown, but then everything you read about selective mutism etc. says that early diagnosis and intervention is crucial for recovery! We're at a bit of a loss to be honest. And I won't even mention the guilt I feel over the idea that my toddler might be anxious to the point of being unable to speak around strangers, I'm sure that'll stop me sleeping properly for the next while...

HV has been called, waiting to hear back, but their responses tend to be very much on the "watch and wait" side.

I think to a degree it’s normal. Nursery told me DD1 didn’t speak much there when at home she was a chatterbox when she was coming up to 2, and she would always clam up around strangers, even with us, but over time she talked more and more (and is now a chatterbox everywhere and you’d never believe she was ever the quiet one!) I think she was just shy and that was her coping method.

It may be indicative of something more but in and of itself I wouldn’t panic too much.

Both of mine went through a phase around this age where they spoke to me and not much to other people. I also know children who didn't speak at all at this age but started to talk more later.

Fairly typical for both my children...