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?