Just looking for some hope

[SleepDeprived2018]

Struggling a bit with 3 year old DD recently diagnosed ASD

Shes non verbal - is making lots of babble noise at the moment though.
Shes poorly with covid atm and im finding it so hard she cant tell me what hurts if her head hurts etc
I know she might never talk
But i was just looking for some hopeful experiences- did your ASD DC talk after age 3?

DD starting talking around 5.
If the babbling is there then it's still possible.

@StrawberryLollipops thanks for replying I really appreciate it x

Anybody else? X

Mine was about five before he started talking, he’s 14 now and has plenty of teenage backchat to keep me on my toes!

We did have private weekly SALT with an ASD specialist speech therapist for three years which was expensive to fund but I don’t regret it.

Thank you for replying x

We have been trying to hire a private speech therapist- not something we would usually be able to afford but shes now entitled to dla so plan to use this and somehow top it up- anyway contacted all within 15 mile radius or so and none have any space 🤯 one offered us to pay to be on a wait list with no time scale and the others redirected us to the register of salt website x

Oh that’s frustrating I know there is a shortage of SALT locally to us also. While you wait I’d recommend the books It takes two to talk and more than words by Hannen. Also from a communication and engagement point of view I’d look at DIR floortime.

Brilliant thank you I really appreciate your advice!
Just brought more than words the other day will look at it takes two to talk now x

At this age the biggest indicator is understanding (receptive). DS is the only one of his non verbal early birds group that has no language at 15 out of six. The others vary one in mainstream setting. As early as 2/3 it was clear DS understanding of simple commands and attention was limited. One of his group (whose 14) whilst only speaks a few words his makaton/BSL is of a high level.