motor planning difficulties and speech

[SheWhoMustBeIgnored]

ds1 is 2.8 (asd) and recently has become alot more co-operative with trying to communicate. he has been copying actions to books in his own clumsy way. we have been reading a book with animal in so i make the sound and do an action. he will do the action but its like he tries to make the sound but doesnt know how iyswim. for example for a lion i will roar and shake my head he does the shaking head but its a silent roar. for a puppy i will pant then bark he will pant. We have been trying to say mummy which has been broken down to mu he tries and will say am or mm if he really concentrates.
Does anyone else have experience of this and is it something that gets better with time.
he has finally mastered a spoon after months of putting it up to his mouth like a lolly.
He is not clumsy in other areas he can build the most fantastic towers of blocks and balance them better than i can he is also really could with puzzles and can deal with the fiddly pieces so i really dont know whats going on

It is quite common for children with autism to have some level of dyspraxia as well. It's verbal dyspraxia which has prevented ds1 from being able to speak in the main. Although it isn't necessary a problem for your son it might be worth ruling out (which a SALT might do- although I found it very hard to get any help from SALTs in this regard as they just though about ASD rather than additional physical problems- eventually he was diagnosed as having verbal dyspraxia by someone in the States).

Your ds's imitation sounds great (which is a really good thing and means you will be able to work with your son to try and help).

You could ask the SALT about verbal dyspraxia and the Nuffield system. Or you may want to look at Nancy Kaufman's website. She sometimes comes to the UK and her Kaufman cards are quite easy to use.

apraxia kids is another good website for learning about verbal dyspraxia (verbal dyspraxia in the UK/apraxia in the States).

thanks for replying - does your ds speak now?
also forgot to mention why he usues makaton he has trouble with the signs that require him to use his fingers e.g. for book he willl put his has together, link then fold over his fingers instead of just opening his hands. will have a look at those websites though many thanks.