Is your little one (ASD - high functioning) verbal at school?

[Blossom4538]

Hi all,
As per the question really. Our DD (5) has been selectively mute for years but we're so pleased she has just started talking to a select few at school! She has however Recently been referred for ASD/ADD/ADHD/Anxiety multi agency assessment.

Do most children with ASD (hfa) have some speech problems? She hasn't been delayed with speech at all. Won't always talk to family (grandparents etc) or other grown ups.

My son was diagnosed ASD at 3.5, and he's just turned five. He has never had a speech delay, and the speech therapist for my younger son (who is almost three, but just has an expressive language delay) described DS1 as a precocious talker. And he is. He engages lots of adults in conversation, has plenty of friends at school, has a great sense of humour, and is the antithesis of everything you read about ASD.

Our DD, who's now 11, was diagnosed with selective mutism at 4 and then got a HFA diagnosis aged 8, together with an anxiety disorder diagnosis.

You asked whether most children with HFA have some speech problems - I'd say the defining issue is problems with communication rather than necessarily speech itself. DD had no speech delay but obviously has problems communicating. My DS2 and DS3 also have HFA - no speech delay, no SM, but they still have problems with communication in some situations.

Thank u,

Pannetone, would you mind ellaborating on the communication struggles please?

Stopgap, what did they base your Sons's ASD diagnosis on/what struggles/behaviours did he present, if u don't mind me asking..?!

Thanks so much X

Dd8 was very early to speak and spoke very well, using 'big' words. At around 3 she used her own little language for some words and mispronounced some sounds, but generally appeared very clever with advanced speech. At 4-5 her speech sounded baby like, and now at 8 often speaks in baby voice when very stressed. This can be constant for days, or absent for a couple of days and only occasional some days. It's a good indicator of her level of anxiety. Otherwise she is still very verbal and can speak well.

However, when stressed she can also become non-verbal and make repetitious sounds rather than talking, or just not talk. She can screech and squeal over and over again.

She also has lots of communication issues. Can't walk up to a group and say hello, needs to be communicated to directly with 'closed' language. Doesn't like to be joked to, doesn't get sarcasm etc etc.

Dd is deceptive because she can speak very well and can be very articulate, but still stuggles with a lot of communication issues.

My Dd3 has Asd/Aspergers and is selectively mute when stressed or anxious! She doesnt have a dx of SM because in my area that is assessed for at CAMHS and we dont want to go down that route again so I am saving for an independent assessment.

Oh and she is home ed because school was making her (and me) ill!

Rigidity; needing everything to be done in a certain order otherwise there'd be a meltdown that lasted an hour; overwhelmed by sensory stimuli, so it was impossible to take him many places. Apart from a latent loathing for hand dryers, he's pretty much done with all the above.

At 3, he also watched several videos on YouTube about Thomas collections, then recited them in their entirety all day long, so conversation was not forthcoming at all at that point.

Currently he has dyspraxia, finds it hard to regulate emotion via speech (so lots of overemphasis that often sounds angry or rude), still enjoys learning absolutely everything about certain subjects (currently superheroes--so every single Marvel and DC character, of which there are hundreds, with every minor detail) so I'm sure he'd fall under the old Asperger's definition.

But like I said, great sense of humour, outgoing with strangers and lots of friends.

His school said that they will repeat the ADOS test at 6, and I guess we will see.

Frusso, that sounds like DS, also volume (loud), not getting social cues for taking turns in conversation, having to know literally everything, not understanding personal space (trying to teach him that now) - many things about communication which are not to do with ability to speak (although he does have pronunciation issues and an odd cadence if that is the right word).

Easily overwhelmed with sensory stimuli, this leads to meltdowns; anxiety with change; unable to regulate emotions (lashes out with anger, cries if sad, literally jumps up and down almost with anticipation etc). Also seeks sensory stimulation sometimes so that is a tricky one.

But very loving, very funny, smiles and chats a lot - when he is secure and comfortable.

Sorry, when I said ability to speak, I was thinking of language delay, not selective mutism which is a different thing. DS had the classic thing of being an early talker and then reverting to babble for over a year. He was referred to SALT but now he is very verbal. Just not always clearly so hence with SALT again.