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.

[TheNoodlesIncident]

I think you need to get PECS for him or learn some Makaton signs, it's important he can communicate effectively with you in any manner available and will save a lot of frustration. Has he had the usual hearing checks to ensure he can actually hear you? (I don't think I bothered with that for DS as he clearly could hear, he just wasn't responding which was different).

My DS had speech delay and language processing disorder as part of his DX, his speech is OK now but he still does struggle occasionally to express concepts and things that are hard for him to define (he's 11). He had a smattering of words at the age your son is at, he was clearly very behind in speech and had obvious communication difficulties. One thing that stands out is the lack of reciprocal behaviours, ie if you waved at him or smiled at him, he didn't copy you and wave/smile back, he just stared at you.

A lot of children are delayed in picking up speech, but there isn't an issue per se, they're just slower than average and will get there in the end. My son did develop speech and has come on really quite well (he's in a very supportive mainstream) but to be honest, for a long time I didn't know if he would or not or whether he would stay in his own bubble. All you can do is try to develop your dc's communication skills via signing Makaton and/or PECS and other methods; being unable to communicate in any way will be a massive frustration for him and you and it can only be beneficial.

I remember this stage and feel for you, it's horrible not knowing and so worrying

[BatleyTownswomensGuild]

DS never had more than 4 words between 1 and 3, at 3 the vocab started to come. He's 6 now. He probably has the conversational ability of a 4 year old, so still not caught up. But still very much developing so we hope he will get there in time.

[MustBeThursday]

DD didn't really babble. She had no symbolic gestures like waving or pointing and little to no understanding, her main form of communication was grabbing on to my leg/arm and dragging me to the thing she wanted. She started saying single words on the approach to 3, was using short phrases and pointing at things by 5 and now (6) speaks in hesitant short sentences and will narrate when she's playing. The best way I can describe is she talks as if she's speaking a foreign language. Her little sisters (2.9) speech is further on and has been for some time.

[Merryoldgoat]

It’s a tricky one with DS2 - he’s so different from DS1 so if he does have autism it is likely to be a very different profile.

But as he gets older it’s entirely possible it’s just a speech delay and other milestones are being met.

I don’t really mind either way - I just want a happy and healthy little boy.

To the PP who asked about hearing: yes, he’s been checked and all was normal.

Time will tell I suppose. In the meantime I have a lovely little lamb to enjoy ❤️

[Queenofthestress]

My DS was about the same as the first few posters, said mummy at three & half, then rolled from there with speech therapy. However, his understanding and communication is at less than three years old at 6

[bestlifetime]

Not autistic, but speech was pretty much zero at 2 then a few by 2.5 half words ( example is bi for biscuit) now about to turn 4 and does sentences ( not in the correct order or tense, but a massive improvement) Lots me me repeating him to model the correct word. Our conversations are like this still

DS - Me winned it
Me - You won

[HavenDilemma]

@monkeytennis97 You can get that app refunded from the App Store/play store as they will be able to see you haven't used it

[Nosurveysneeded]

Sadly never. She doesn't speak.

The odd single word that isn't correct eg saying 'am' (ham) when wanting a walk doesn't to me mean speaking.

Diagnosed at the severe end of the autistic spectrum with severe learning disability (before people decided we shouldn't say severe or mild since 'unfair' to mild apparently!

[Downinthedumps99]

About aged 4 for 1 or 2 words, at 7 he was referred for 2 weeks of intense speech and language therapy in london, was like awakening a whole new child
Hes 15 now, never shuts up

[Ihearditthroughthegrapevine]

My little boy was about 7 before he started talking properly he mainly babbled and used one word gestures before then.

His speech therapist said when he was about 3 it would take him years to start speaking because she’s never met a child so patient to explain what he meant non verbally before, rather than talking.
He went to a lovely little school where everyone knew him and he could be lazy because the staff and teachers understood his non verbals and then we had to move and he was in a much bigger school where he had to make himself heard. Within weeks he was talking and it feels like he hasn’t stopped since, he even talks in his sleep now.

[TooGood2BeFalse]

My eldest has HFA/Aspergers and spoke at nearly 3 but it was slow going. He's now 8 and speaks in fluent sentences with the odd slight mistake, but he actually asks me questions like 'what causes black holes in space?'(STUMPED..Google is my friend)

I was convinced that my second son was on the spectrum too, he was silent at 2.Not a babble.Late to point.Nearly 4 now and speaks just as well as his 8 year old brother Particularly when arguing.I still have my eye on him because I know ASD comes in all shapes and sizes..but so far,neither his dr or nursery have any concerns.

[Lifejacket]

@nosurveysneeded i would like them to start using some form of differentiation again in the dx. My son is classed as severe (he does now have some language but not much usable communication) there is a huge difference between high and low functioning and if irritates me that they are now flung in together. Before a tone says anything I appreciate people with hfa have needs but they are completely different.

[Boulshired]

I found life so much easier using the term severe learning difficulties, I stay away from autism altogether as it gives no one any useable information.

[BlackAndWhiteCat01]

4.5 years old
Makaton was amazing for us for years
And then one Christmas we bought Read With Me Scout. It was just a filler present to be honest, that year.

That toy I swear, it changed her world. She began to talk.

[BlackAndWhiteCat01]

(Oh she’s 11 now and sleep talks all night. I never thought I’d see the day)

[Merryoldgoat]

So many ideas to try! Thank you all.

[WellTidy]

Ds has classic autism and he was 4yo before he even used single letters sounds. He never babbled. The single letter sounds became more varied and then gradually became words. His speech and language is still very delayed (at 8yo now) but we were afraid ever to hope for the position he is in now.

We used PECS from 3yo, using laminated photographs (not the line drawings or stock images). We photographed everything imaginable, printed them out, laminated, put velcro on the back and they went into his various PECS books. He took to PECS immediately. I was so grateful for it. As was he, clearly. The Photo books came everywhere with us as they were his speech.

I tried makaton before PECS and got nowhere. DS was receptiveness so delayed that he was unable to grasp any of it at that stage. He did later, and actually we still use some signs for emphasis.

A word about ABA. We’ve run an ABA programme for five years and it has been a lifesaver for DS and for our whole family. Ds loves his ABA. We wouldn’t do it if he didn’t! We have a fantastic consultant who we feel gets the balance right, and he has made so much progress. His progress was immediate, and I cannot speak highly of it enough. I am aware that there is some less desirable ABA out there, but I would recommend anyone with a child with ASD (and mine has classic autism) to look into it.

[Marsay772]

Mine is nearly 4 and although he does use a few of 2 or 3 word sentences. We use makaton and pictures around the house to help communication. He often just takes you to where he wants to go, or just gets food and juice out as he doesnt communicate if he's hungry or thirsty. We are still in nappies and sometimes he will us know if he has pooed. Its all very hit and miss. Hes a joy but very hard work!

[Yellowbutterfly1]

5 years old. That was 15 years ago now and although they are physically able to speak they have never progressed a huge amount.
Can’t have a conversation with them but they do like using Makaton signing.

[Scruffyoak]

7

[Kaydogsdinner]

WellTidy can I ask what area you are in? I'm looking for an ABA therapist for my 6 year old daughter who has moderate autism

[WellTidy]

Kay I am in the south east.

[x2boys]

Yep.I agree @Boullsifhired if I say ds is autistic people expect him to be like Anne Heggarty etc ,he also has severe learning disabilities in his case.it's much easier just to use the severe learning disabilities as it's far more appropriate to.describe his behaviours

[Legoandloldolls]

My son was non verbal until just before he turned 7. I thought he would never talk. He was moved to a school where they use sign supported English and it took three months and he just started talking. So.ething I thought he would never do

[x2boys]

@Boulshired*