Oh, FGS.

[BigWeeHag]

DS2 has been referred to SALT.

He's 19 months and entirely without verbal language, but he is not ASD, I believe that whole heartedly. His communication is excellent, he is happy and interested in everything, always on the go, loves people, loves animals - polar opposite of DS1 who does have ASD. But DS1's first "thing" was speech delay, so I am mildly freaking out.

Hopefully the HV is just being careful because of DS1's history, but it does feel like a kick to the head when I was there about DS1, and she was more interested in DS2's behaviour.

Dd2 got a early referral due to her sister being on the spectrum, dd2 was a lot different than dd1 but it turned out that dd2's Autism is more severe than dd1's. There could be a number or reasons why your ds does not talk, he maybe picking up on the fact that your other ds does not speak, some children just take longer to speek than others.

I often take dd2 to appointments and we end up talking more about dd1.

dd2 is 15 months & not one word - I'm convinced she's NT, she understands loads & follows instructions, waves/points/triadic gaze/pretend play etc - BUT no words. She's on track to see SALT at 18 months. I've been freaking out all week (dd1 had no words until 26 months which me complacent when it came to ds' delay, I don't want to make the same mistake twice). I'd love to have average.

DS1 (NT) didn't say his first word until he was 2yrs old, each child is different.

I can understand why the HV would be concerned and is probably best to rule anything out, or if it is the case, get early intervention.

DS (who has not been dx yet but is almost certainly ASD) starting talking around 12 months. Speaking in itself is just not always relevant. Social communication (verbal or not) is far more important as an early indication - showing things, sharing things, pointing etc. Loads of kids don't speak till 2 or over and are nt.

Probably won't do any harm for him to see SALT in any case, but what is your gut instinct? That's probably far more important than what HV thinks.