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Original poster

Non verbal autistic children

57 replies

Doggydoggydoggy · 13/03/2019 08:28

I hope it doesn’t come across wrong but can they be ‘normal’ in every way except verbal speech?

By that I mean, can they understand everything, follow instructions, communicate clearly (but without speech), be attentive to their surroundings etc just like a verbal child, just without speech and still be autistic?

My youngest DS still isn’t talking, not even babbling.
He communicates by shaking his head, pointing/grabbing/holding out hands and squeaking.
He was 2 at the end of September last year.
He has seen a therapist who says she has never before seen a child like him which isn’t terribly reassuring...

He is being referred for a hearing test but seeing as he responds to absolutely everything and understands everything I don’t see how it could possibly be a hearing issue.

OP posts:
underachieverspleasetryharder · 13/03/2019 08:30

I think children with verbal dyspraxia may fit this profile?

ThunderStorms · 13/03/2019 08:35

Two is not too old.

He is communicating. I think sometimes we rush into intervention. Keep talking.

AllThatGlistensIs · 13/03/2019 08:36

The therapist is appalling, that’s an utterly ridiculous thing to say.

Broadly answering your question, yes it can happen.

I have two with autism, one didn’t speak a single word until they were 2.7, and they are now on track for GCSEs and extremely articulate.

My other is mostly non verbal still at 9 but has additional learning disabilities.

The point is, it’s a spectrum, and although children with autism often have similar traits, they are all very, very different. Your DC is extremely young and there can definitely be changes and progression in speech and communication Smile

underachieverspleasetryharder · 13/03/2019 08:37

I think a child who is not even babbling at 2.5 definitely needs intervention, so you're do it the right thing.

nombrecambio · 13/03/2019 08:38

Does he have ASD or do you suspect his might?

Does he understand and follow instructions without lots of gesturing and showing him objects?

Is he babbling? Using any words or attempts?

Some children are excellent at masking a hearing loss. And there are various levels of hearing loss. So some children can hear noises when people are talking and turn to look, then they follow an instruction by interpreting gesture, eye gaze, facial expression, etc

I've seen LOTS of children with typical development, good attention and listening, good play and social skills, good understanding, good pre-verbal skills ... but no speech. Not just through hearing loss but other diagnosis too.

jamoncrumpets · 13/03/2019 08:39

Autism is a diad, to be diagnosed you need evidence of social communication impairment and sensory processing disorder.

fleshmarketclose · 13/03/2019 08:47

Ds has autism and started speaking at seven, he has 8 GCSE's and BTech level 3s. When he wasn't speaking he didn't try and communicate in other ways so for me it would be no he wasn't typical in other respects apart from speech the autism affected all areas of his development. Your child appears to have found a way of communicating that works for him, hearing test sounds like a good idea, I would wonder about verbal dyspraxia as well as knew a boy at playgroup who didn't speak but communicated very well with gestures, pointing, noises and was being investigated for ASD and he was later diagnosed with verbal dyspraxia and no ASD.

TrickyKid · 13/03/2019 08:53

My ds was like this and turned out to be very dyslexic.

bialystockandbloom · 13/03/2019 08:55

Sorry to be pedantic jamon but I don't think sensory processing is part of the diagnostic criteria - it's the triad of impairments which is social communication, imagination and social interaction. OP from what you've said he doesn't sound like this fits - it's definitely possible to have speech delay without having autism. What's his interaction like with his peers? And what's his play like - does he play with toy figures, use imagination?

When my ds (asd) was that age he was verbal but it wasn't chatty, more sort of functional ("want some juice" type stuff), he also had next to no imaginative play (would prefer just pressing buttons, spinning stuff), and didn't really interact with other children especially ones he didn't know. He was diagnosed with 'high functioning' asd aged 3. He's very able and sociable and imaginative now (11yo), but at 2/3 it was much more noticeable even though he was deemed borderline. Non verbal communication and especially interaction is more indicative of asd than language alone at this age. Def worth pursuing the speech delay but there are other reasons for this not just asd.

ThunderStorms · 13/03/2019 08:56

I presume his hearing has checked?

HardAsSnails · 13/03/2019 09:01

If he's 'normal' (ie developing along expected lines) in very way except speech I'm not sure why you're thinking autism.

It is possible to have difficulties with speech without difficulties with understanding language though, eg verbal dyspraxia and selective mutism.

needthisthread · 13/03/2019 09:01

To answer your question, no.

A diagnosis of autism means the person has impairment in several different areas. There are several criteria.

Your child's speech problem may be just that, a speech problem, but there is absolutely no way that a child who was simply non verbal would be diagnosed with autism.

Original poster
Doggydoggydoggy · 13/03/2019 09:02

To answer nombrecambio
He is not diagnosed with anything at the moment.

He understands everything verbally without any gestures at all.
If for example you said get your shoes and he wasn’t even looking at you he would still go and get his shoes, so he definately 100% has understanding.

Babbling, once in a blue moon he might go ‘babababa’ or something to himself but the second you repeat it or acknowledge in any way he smiles and stops and nothing you do will encourage him to start again.
He very occasionally says ‘dad’ but not in context.

His focus is pretty poor, he generally doesbt look directly at you for more than a few seconds.

OP posts:
ThunderStorms · 13/03/2019 09:03

And physical (voice box etc ) issues been ruled out?

Up to 3 is within 'normal', but if you are looking for a reason, then all avenues should be looked at, not just one.

HardAsSnails · 13/03/2019 09:04

jamon is kind of almost right, DSM5 autism criteria is pretty much social communication/interaction plus restrictive/repetitive/sensory problems.

Original poster
Doggydoggydoggy · 13/03/2019 09:04

bialystockandbloom

Interacts pretty well with other kids, going to nursery and plays with his siblings and nursery friends.

He won’t play with toys on his own, but he will copy and play games with other children

OP posts:
Original poster
Doggydoggydoggy · 13/03/2019 09:07

He is waiting on his hearing test to rule that out then I’m not sure where we go from there.

OP posts:
Ikeameatballs · 13/03/2019 09:09

I would disagree that up to 3 is normal. Parents should seek assessment if their child is not talking by 2.

OP, it sounds like your ds can understand spoken language but I would be concerned if he is unable to look at you for more than a few seconds. What did the therapist say would happen next?

nombrecambio · 13/03/2019 09:09

How do you feel his eye sight is? Does he squint or look at objects from the side? Struggle to locate objects? Clumsy?

There are so many reasons a child might be having difficulty developing speech.

Your SLT saying she has never encountered it before is a worry - is she newly qualified?

Are you doing any Parent Child Interaction training?

Pythonesque · 13/03/2019 09:11

I understand where you are coming from - when I was that age and non-verbal (non-babbling also) my mother kept being told I "couldn't be deaf" and, as she was studying psychology at the time, she knew that autism was an alternative possibility. Eventually a nursery nurse backed her up - I had serious hearing deficit from bad glue ear and was lipreading.

What you are describing does sound suggestive for one of the more complex speech disorders, but I'm glad his hearing is being tested too, that is important. I hope that further investigation helps link you up with more experienced support to find the right ways to help you help him.

Original poster
Doggydoggydoggy · 13/03/2019 09:16

Therapist hasn’t said, just that his hearing will be tested and go from there.

I think his eye sight is fine, he’s not clumsy, locates objects easily etc.

Yes it is Sad
I don’t believe she is newly qualified.

No, nothing like that.

He literally interacts just like a normal child, just squeaking and gesturing instead of talking.

The lack of eye contact we always just put down to him having low attention span, he is a very active child. Constantly off doing things.

OP posts:
Ivegotthree · 13/03/2019 09:19

Get another SLT. There are loads out there, loads of good and several bad ones. Honestly, she is no use to you.

nombrecambio · 13/03/2019 09:22

www.hanen.org/Programs/For-Parents/It-Takes-Two-to-Talk.aspx

Lots of trusts/services run Hanen style Parent Child Interaction training. It's a good place to start for most developmental speech and language pathologies and it's never detrimental.

nombrecambio · 13/03/2019 09:25

www.vervechildinteraction.org

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