Some help needed

[Peaches2018]

Hi everyone,

I thought I'd come here to ask for advice and maybe some ideas. My DS is 19 months old, has no words, doesn't point or ask for things, bites other children including me and his dad, doesn't seem to understand what we want from him if we ask please give us the cup or where the cat? He's excessively busy with his mouth and we have a problem with him if we want to go out or to family or groups. He starts crying like crazy and doesn't want anyone near him or to touch him it seems. The only thing in those situations that work is a few nursery rhymes or some songs which I really dislike.
Had the HV here (finally) last week and said he looked fine but that he seemed very frustrated and restless. She promised to send us the Ages and Stages tests. He failed both of them.
I'm told they don't do anything until he's 2 and got the advice to just keep on talking to him and to read maybe a few more stories. I'm not sure if I want to laugh or cry at this advice.
What can I do for my son? He doesn't copy us with anything, is obsessed with songs and nursery rhymes and also likes it when we sing a song for him. There should be something I can do until the summer right? Thanks for reading

It sounds like he is very frustrated by not being able to communicate. Have you been referred to speech and language? In some areas I think you can self refer. If you look on your local offer it should tell you what support is available in your area.

Things that helped my ds improve his communication were makaton (a kind of sign language), visual prompts, using 1-2 word sentences and over doing it on the accompanying gestures. My ds is autistic so we also used intensive interaction. Essentially you spend time copying everything you child does to try and build a connection.

It is great that he is into nursery rhymes and that they calm him. If he's very responsive to them maybe you could try singing instructions to him and see if he responds better?

In terms of the biting could you get him some chewlery? If you search for it on amazon you should find loads. He could be sensory seeking.

Reading up on sensory processing disorders was also really helpful for me, 'the out of sync child' is a good place to start.