Likelihood of developing speech

[cansu]

My dd aged 6 has some single words and has been making steady progress for some time but is still largely non verbal. I still obviously hope that she will still make progress and may one day have more speech. I also however wonder if I am deluding myself on this! Does anyone have any experience of older children developing speech. I know the conventional wisdom states that if you haven't got it by five or 6 there isn't a lot of hope. Any ideas?

Forgot to say she has ASD!

I can't answer your question with regard to ASD but my niece has severe learning and physical disiabilites, she is 16 and has recently begun to nod for yes and other amazing things which she could never do before, I would say never give up. Keep providing motivation and reward and who knows what she might be capable of in the future.

Good luck.

I would say never give up too although maybe keep evaluating your approach.

I was told by someone that she supports a man (ASD) who started talking recently at 20 years old.

Also just told ds (10) to keep quiet for a moment - keeps asking why and how etc - and he did not have a lot of words and very little functional speech at 6.

Agree with April about never giving up.

I have heard of quite a few teenagers whose speech has blossomed. Am in the same boat as you though - Ds2 is 9 and still largely on single words. He is progressing very very gradually (starting to be able to imitate short phrases now) but I wouldn't class him as verbal as many people don't understand him. He seems to have a real problem with sequencing sounds and syllables which makes some words very unclear.

How is your DDs receptive language? Some of the best advice I have been given recently is to take the pressure off DS for expressive speech and focus on developing his understanding.

Also, how are her imitation skills? I am working quite a bit on modelling speech for DS - hoping that the more he repeats, the more it will stick and become embedded, so he can eventually use it spontaneously. He is quite good at imitation and will make a real attempt to copy words clearly, even if he doesnt always manage it.

Remember reading on here that they now understand the brain is quite plastic until around 25. So wouldn't give up. FWIW my 5 yo isn't able to speak, but his ability to communicate has come on hugely in the last year through a mix of signs, symbols, nodding/shaking head, moving towards what he wants, noises etc .... Just a matter of making everyone else aware and responsive to it to further encourage it.

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts on this. Sphil - dd has made lots of progress with her receptive language and seems quite capable cognitively. She also like your ds has problems sequencing sounds and often only says first part of a word. Will keep trying.

My ds onlys says last part of word, but it's improving.

I was told by SALT that if children don't have some speech by the time they are about 7, they are generally unlikely to ever develop functional speech BUT there are always surprises and exceptions. I know a 9 yr old who now has fabulous developing speech against all the odds - 18 months ago he didn't have a single sound. I think a lot depends on if the child sees the need for language. Many communicate perfectly well without and don't seem to see the need for it.

I think it's ok to be hopeful - in fact, you should be - but also, reasonable in your expectations. Anything can happen.

Cansu - yes, its first parts of words here too. Or problems with certain blends - we get 'serwim' and serweet' for 'swim' and 'sweet', 'brue' for 'blue'. But have just realised that he's saying 'crisps' now after 5 years of saying 'crimas'.

I know I keep going on about it on various threads but verbal behaviour has really worked for us. It focuses on the motivation to communicate.

Yes we've done VB too April - it has really helped DS, though he hasn't really progressed past the requesting stage.