How many non verbal children did you know growing up? How many do you know now?

[MaryMaryVeryContrary]

Not a goady thread and I wont be engaging with posters who want to speculate on the causes by starting debates about parenting and screen time.

But in the absence of any proper data, I’m interested to know whether others think there has been a rise in non verbal children (age 3 and over). I didn’t know any growing up, and now I know 3. So it seems to me there has been a rise but it may just be the area I live in.

None and none.
Lived in a few different areas of the country as well.

1 during the 80's, a lovely boy with autism.

We had a little girl in Brownies. She was with us from age 7 to 10 and never said a word the whole time. She joined in everything.
That was 10 years ago. I've seen her around since - she talks now.

None / none

None growing up and I'd still know none if it wasn't for my son. The number of non verbal children is very small surely? Some kids are selectively mute but that is not non verbal.

I live in a huge county and going on the number of SEN schools that cater for non verbal kids I'd say there are no more than 30-40 non verbal kids born per year.

Unless you live next to one of very few SLD/ PMLD/ speech and language schools. In which case people do move to be closer.

Until very recently, children with that level of additional needs weren't allowed to attend mainstream school, or groups, and as adults had to live in care homes. That was still happening 25 years ago and many adults aged 40+ are still living in care homes meant for the elderly.
Society moved on and recognised that we shouldn't keep people locked away. That's a good thing.

None growing up. Many now I work in a special ASD school.

But that's probably the reason you and I and many others didn't know them growing up. Because they tend to go to special schools, not mainstream.

Loads growing up but my mum used to work in a sn school , I'm not sure now , a fair few over the last 11 years. One of my dc didn't speak until he was 5

0 and now 2

one growing up and one now - at least I presume he is still non verbal. I knew him when he was a preschooler.

Growing up - honestly, I’ve no idea: my primary school had what was called the Remedial Unit and I suspect that was where all the children with any type of impairment went and there could have been any number of non verbal children. Before mainstream schooling for all I guess that was why they seemed uncommon. I still don’t know any, but I don’t have or know many children or any neurodivergent people who might have, on the basis it’s thought to be at least partially hereditary, neurodivergent children.

None when I was growing up (that I can remember but I did go to a primary school that has a special needs class so it's possible)
And I know four now. My little ds and 2 others in his nursery class

Growing up, a few because my DSM volunteered for Mencap.
Now, there are 3 in my kids school.

A lot of babies would have died in the first few weeks from various syndromes/chromosomal differences/congenital differences/birth injuries survive now. So, they are perhaps more visible in the population.

Lots! My mum worked in a nursery and also did babysitting for some of the children. Many non-verbal high needs children. They went on to schools for children with complex needs.

Now-still lots. I work in one of these schools now.

Everything in context.i didn't know any growing up ,but having my own severely disabled non verbal child I now know quite a few !

None and one now

20 years ago I worked in an afterschool child care setting for ages 4+ I was there 5 years and seen hundreds off children come through the doors there wasn't any non verbal children over the time I was there also none diagnosed asd there was a total off 2 that I remember diagnosed with adhd and very few children had alligies. I left that line off work and returned to child care 3 years ago and was surprised at how many non verbal/asd/adhd/alligies children there is now coming through our doors. Why the huge increase I don't know my own dd has asd and she certainly doesn't have screen time 247.

None and none

But I live a mainstream life i
e. Not much exposure to those who may be non verbal

1 when I was growing up- the patents were deaf and mute and the child as well so I guess was genetic. I know 2 now due to ASD.

I can’t think of anyone growing up. Now I know one.

Now? None. However, I worked with one when I was a secondary school teacher (in a mainstream school). The parent insisted on placing the child in mainstream, but later changed their mind.

When I was a child - one. An older autistic girl. (I was a child in the 1960s.)

Another down for none and none.

None and none. Although apparently DH was a late talker (then diagnosed ASD at 4). Our 2 year old has amazing speech, very talkative and he gets lots of screen time at home.

One when I was growing up, and none now