Speech Delay 2 years. Any parents with DC with high functioning autism start with speech delay

[3babies22]

Hi, my son is very delayed with his communication skills speech delay along with delays across all communication skills really. He is 2 years old. But everyone/thread i come across were a child has high functioning autism doesnt seem to of had speech delay. I am holding out hope that his speech will develop well in time and although i believe he will get an ASD diagnosis. Just asking if your child has ASD did he start with speech delay? Age did first words come? And how are they managing now? Xx

Hello, I have a two year old who sounds exactly the same. Doctors don't think he has autism however do suspect he has a delay, following this I think he will have a social and communication disorder known as SCD. Does your son answer to his name or make eye contact? Has he gone to speech therapy? With ASD speech can be associated however they need to also have repetitive and restricted behaviours for example lining up cars for hours etc. a lot of toddler behaviours also mimic autism and mixing a speech delay in also sometimes looks like autism. My son has a lot of autistic traits however also displays a lot of typical behaviours which is why I don't think he would ever get a diagnosis

Hi @liajay thanks for your reply. No he doesnt answer to his name. He does have eye contact (didnt at one time but this hugely improved) his understanding is also delayed but is slowly improving. He loves running and outdoors and is very fussy with food but main concerns of speech and communication/understanding. He was 2 months premature but is as of this month corrected age of 2 years. He has some joint attention but this can be difficult at times and we are working on his joint attention at the minute. We are under SALT but when it starts next week its 4 zoom calls with just myself ovrr 4 weeks so i presume they will give me tasks to do with him as they are actually seeing him until after these sessions x

My heart knows its ASD if im honest. But i just wondered if anyone with child diagnosed with ASD started with speech delay but now has fluent speech communication.

Yes 2 family members kids with ASD couldn't speak until 3/4 and now speak and communicate very well xx

My DSis had high functioning ASD and didn't spreak a word until she was well over 2, nor did she walk until 2.

My DD didn't speak until 3, we suspect ASD as well.

Ahh thats great thanks for your replies sometimes worry just takes over but we will keep going thanks x

My son has a speech delay and I have found it so difficult to find the relevant information I needed in order to help him, it took me a long time to understand what we could do at home to help support his speech development. To help others I have been creating a mobile app called Pippin to help parents of speech delayed children access information about how they can help speech development at home and track their child's speech progress. I am working with a few different specialists to create the content, the app is still in development but if you would like to know when it launches then please signup on my website: pippinspeech.com/

My son had severe speech, language & social communication delay - the doctors were convinced it was classic autism but when they did the MDA they diagnosed a delay not a disorder which proved to be correct. Dr Google always points to autism but there are many different kinds of speech delays and disorders as well.

If your son has joint attention that's great - the website teachmetotalk.com has a list of pre-verbal skills a toddler needs to master before speech happens, my son first showed joint attention at 2.5 years, that was halfway down the list - he had his first very unclear words 6 months later and needed speech therapy for a long time afterwords but caught up by 4.5-5 - hth.

@essexmummy321 thats so nice to hear. Everything is so negative on google and it can really grind you down. He does have other traits of ASD and he has a little joint attention but nowhere near as good as his twin sister who also has a speech delay but joint attention and understanding is much more with her. Im sure he will develop speech and hearing stories like this really help me remain positive... did your son start to have major meltdowns unexpected? Nursery have said its just a normal part of the process due to him not beimg able to communicate his needs to hes very frustrated but he seems to have them daily now :(

Frustrations due to being unable to communicate are common, how is the speech therapy going?