To ask when your autistic child started to speak?

[Merryoldgoat]

I have two DS - older is 7 and younger is 2. Older has HFA. He spoke early and has been reading since three. In mainstream school and doing well most of the time.

Younger appears to have some ASD traits and before lockdown was referred for assessment.

He’s got no words. He babbles, makes noises that may be his words for things and repeats some sounds.

When will he talk?! It’s killing me. He’s obviously extremely frustrated that we don’t always understand what he wants but I don’t know how I can help him.

He’s absolutely lovely and full of joy and sunshine but he is HARD WORK and that’s exacerbated by the limited communication.

Older DS could speak in full sentences by 2 so this is all a bit alien.

[HarrysMummy17]

Ds1 didn't really start speaking until he was 3 and a half. Only the odd few words and looking back at videos, they weren't very clear even though we understood him at the time.
Speech came gradually in time without any intervention and now he's 7 and won't stay quiet!

[Merryoldgoat]

That’s great to hear Harrysmummy - I hope similar happens for my boy.

He’s truly lovely and happy and sweet - I feel so bad he can’t talk to us.

[1stTimeMama]

My son was well in to 3 before he spoke more than a couple of words. And 6 before he spoke to anyone outside of our immediate family unit. He's 7 now and was having S&L therapy but that's all had to stop for now.

[HelenaJustina]

Only have experience of HF girl and she spoke much earlier than her peers. It seems so individual...

[x2boys]

Some wont,but thats,not the end of the line there are many other forms of communication you can exp!ore ,my son aged ten uses PECS there is also sign and some APPS dont ever give up.hope

[Merryoldgoat]

Thanks you all for your replies.

I will look at PECS to see if that might help.

[YouJustDoYou]

My son didn't start speaking until he was past 3. Got referred for speechtherapy and had work for a few years and is absolutely fine now at 7.

[EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall]

Between 3 and 4

[EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall]

Had specialist salt from 2 until 5 and speech is fine now at 7

[NameChangeAgain111]

Mine didn't speak a word until after his third birthday, he didn't even babble or call me mama. But he could read by the time he was 4 and talks for hours now if you get him on the right subject.

[petermaysawthefuture]

Around 3 and half 4, but once he started he did not stop!

[x2boys]

Yes it's hard and I hope your ds does gain speech but you can't give up.my son is still lovely even though he's non verba! .

[BluebellForest836]

My son is 7 in June and still doesn’t speak.

Sometimes when he’s frustrated he says ‘me me me me me’ and that’s only recent. That’s it 🤷🏼‍♀️☹️

[eggy1978]

Have you tried Nemecheck protocol?

[OculusThrift]

Mine was around 5 when he started, around 8 he could do 3/4 word sentences. He's now 14 and you can have a conversation with him. He does sound a bit nasely, almost as if he is slightly deaf if you get what I mean, and has a lisp.

[monkeytennis97]

My beautiful DS was 3 and 3 months old when he copied the Teletubbies saying 'again' although it sounded more like 'a-hain'. He has SLD and ASD. (16 now and can speak in two or three word sentences-all learnt sentences and v much on his terms... days of the week, weather, daily routine etc).

[YouTheCat]

My dd, who has Aspergers, was speaking in sentences by 18mths/2years.

Her twin brother (they're 25 now) has never really spoken and struggles to communicate at all, despite using PECS a bit and us trying a computery voice thing when he was 12. He did once say 'Nicole' , copying it from the car advert when he was about 7/8.

Hopefully, you'll get a decent speech therapist who will have some ideas to help.

[Merryoldgoat]

@eggy1978 I’ve not heard of that but I’ll look it up. Thank you.

@x2boys my son is an absolute lamb and I’d never give up. Fully prepared for the fact we’ll have to be innovative - just trying to get some idea of when I could expect some movement if there were to be any.

[SoloMummy]

My lo was 3. 5
Never babbled.
There was nothing.
Then got a couple of words.
Then had an op at 4 and pretty much overnight spoke.

[goldie04]

My DS is being assessed still but he was around 3 when he first spoke. He's now nearly 6 and doesn't stop

[Embracelife]

He didn't and doesnt.
But uses AAC at his level in his 20s
Start with signs makaton PECS and ipad apps like proloquo gridplayer

[Cinders29]

My 8 year old didn't speak at all until he was 5. ( not one word ) It was like it was all stored up there cus within 6 months he could say any word and ask for pretty much anything. ( one word requests) he could also read.

As I said, he's 8 now and it just starting to speak in sentences. He cannot really communicate feelings etc but can ask for whatever he wants to eat, go, watch on the tele, he can answer questions such as his name, how old he is, where he lives etc. He can answer what, where , who questions. He sings and reads great.

Never lose hope. We did pecs which helped massively with his frustrations and gave him an avenue to communicate what he wanted but I really just think he did it when he was ready.

[Cinders29]

Can I just say also, ... and I don't wanna cause any arguments because I know people feel very strongly for and against but be wary or at least really research if anyone ever suggests ABA. We did it when my son was 3 as we were desperate and had a really bad experience with it. I just know how amazing it sounded and I would advise to proceed with caution.

[Merryoldgoat]

Thank you sincerely everyone for your replies - they’ve genuinely helped me a lot and I’m excited to look at the protocols and apps suggested.

I love Mumsnet sometimes.

[Embracelife]

Be very wary of any treatment that claims to "recover" or "cure" autism.
Look at costs.

Tested therapies like ABA dont aim to cure or recover but can help improve functioning and can teach kids with ASD using behaviour approach .

PECS works but iPad based apps can work better for some as more dynamic