Help with language, specifically answer questions, back and forth conversation?

[Whothatbe]

Hi, I have a 4 year old DS who has a lot of vocabulary and can label things. He can request things that he would like and tell you things he doesn't like!!!
He cannot seem to answer questions consistently, beyond yes or no responses. Sometimes I have to push for a yes or no.
He usually will continue as if I haven't asked or will say noooooooo, as if it actually pains him to have to think about what I asked.
He doesn't make observations about people or things around him either.

Did anyone have a child who was similar and did they improve? Did you do anything specific to help them?

Awaiting a multidisciplinary assessment at the moment.
Brought him to a SLT but he didn't really engage beyond the first session. Got very lucky that he managed to get some testing in- she said his language was on par with his peers but he has an issue with pragmatics. I didn't find the sessions helpful beyond the first one so now awaiting public SLT also.
Thanks for reading.

Following as sounds exactly the same as DS. She cannot answer open questions at all.

@butterfield9 have you brought her to anyone for advice?

We had private SALT last year but that was when her speech was basically non existent so they were focusing more on functional speech.

I have no idea how you even approach questions as its more how the ASD brain works than a speech issue, if that makes sense?

That's it yes. The words are there but the language isn't coming out.

Following for my little lad 3.3 - same, good vocabulary but can't answer open questions or ask any of his own and doesn't chat. Oh lots of tv and nursery rhyme echolalia as well. We're yet to see SLT or peads yet though as referrals have only just gone through. Have some other traits for ASD too such as tiptoe walking, side eyeing and repetative behaviours etc etc

I took my ds (10ASD) to a speech and language drop in clinic when he was 3.5. He was verbal and had his own language but some of my concerns were no back and forth conversation, not answering questions and echolalia. He was diagnosed as autistic just before he turned 4. Asking questions came very soon afterwards, starting with ‘what’s that’ through to why questions last. You can have a conversation with him now but it’s not the same as with a NT child and is really only lengthy when it’s based on his own interests. The echolalia lessened from 4 onwards but he still does it now when he’s very excited about something - like he’ll repeat videos verbatim. He can be quite repetitive.

So, things can and do improve.

The Hanen books are good for building communication skills. The declarative language handbook is also good. The foundation of conversation is turn taking so playing turn taking games and other activities outlined in these books can help.

@openupmyeagereyes thanks so much for the book recommendations. Will look at those.
It's so hard to do turn taking when he's so busy. Can be very hyperactive.
Is your DS in mainstream school?

He was but Covid made things difficult and he’s now in a specialist school for autistic children. I think primary could have been ok but I can’t imagine him in a mainstream secondary.

When I say he had his own language I mean typical language as well as the echolalia.

Thank you for those book recommendations, I'll take a look.