2 and a half year old does not talk

[Rousey]

My 2 and a half year old grand-daughter does not and has never said one word. When I ask her to say Mum or Dad she looks confused and turns away. I ask her what her name is and she opens her mouth and says Daaaaaaaa. Her name is Amber. She is the middle child. Her elder brother's speech developement was normal and her younger sister at nine months babbles dad,dad, dad, Amber has NEVER vocalised. I worry that she has a mild form of Autism. Her understanding of verbal comands is good and she loves a cuddle. She tends to want to do everything her elder brother does and will snatch toys from him which causes a fight,  and she has displayed jealousy from a very young age. If she can't get what she wants she throes a tantrum, crying like she has been wounded. Her mother will not go to a specialist saying it is going to cost too much and she tells me that her doctor said to wait until she is four years old. As a tiny baby she used to swing her head from side to side and I often see her walking around with her tongue protruding. She is the most angelic looking child with a head of curly hair and big blue eyes. How can I convince her parents to see a specialist and do I have cause for concern?

[margypops]

Do look in to getting her some speech therapy,I think you are wasting some time by waiting till she is 4years old. Would it be an idea if you all put in some money towards the cost of this,making it a shared cost,its great that you have shown an interest in getting help for her,continue to ask her parents to take it further,the out bursts are probably due to her frustration in not being able to express herself too well.

[RockRose]

Does the school district have any free early intervention/screening programs for children who live in the district?

Waiting until four years old will waste so much of her time!  Can you offer to pay speech therapy for a year or so as a special gift?