Wodka's team studied 535 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who had “only a few single words at most” at age 4. By age 8, 70 percent had developed phrase or fluent speech, with 47 percent speaking fluently.
Some children with autism may start talking at 12-16 months. Most don't start talking until later. Some will start talking between the ages of 2-3 years. Other children talk even later, and some children never learn to talk.
Because autism spectrum disorder varies in severity with each child, there is no hard and fast rule. It is not uncommon for children with ASD to begin developing speech in the same manner as typical children, as well as to regress in speech and language comprehension around two years old.
Some children who have autism may start using words earlier than other children, while others remain non verbal for years or even for life. On average, however, autistic children start forming words around 3 years of age.
MYTH: Nonverbal or Nonspeaking People with Autism are Intellectually Disabled. Just because someone is nonspeaking, does not mean they're non-thinking. Around 25 to 30 percent of children with autism spectrum disorder are minimally verbal or do not speak at all.
Some children with ASD develop meaningful language after age 5. "There is a burst of kids in the 6- to 7- age range who do get language," Dr. Wodka said.
Various studies showed around 25-30 percent of kids with ASD stop speaking after they start to say some words, usually before reaching the age of two. Some children lose social development instead of language, and some lose both.
At age 4, their language delays ranged from not speaking at all to using single words or phrases without verbs. The researchers found that, in fact, most of these children did go on to acquire language skills. Nearly half (47 percent) became fluent speakers. Over two-thirds (70 percent) could speak in simple phrases.
There are many possible reasons why someone with autism might not speak, including difficulty processing language, anxiety, or lack of interest in communication. Nonverbal communication can be just as important and effective as verbal communication.
People with mild autism still have a hard time communicating and interacting with others. They can also find it difficult to change their routine and can be sensitive to sounds, pain, tastes, or other sensations. But generally, they are able to carry out the tasks of daily living well.
Autism doesn't get worse with age, but certain symptoms can become more pronounced and problematic as the child grows older and is more challenged.
ASD Level 1: Requiring Support
Level 1 is the mildest, or “highest functioning” form of autism, which includes those who would have previously been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Individuals with ASD level 1 may have difficulty understanding social cues and may struggle to form and maintain personal relationships.
Type 2 autism, or level 2 autism, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how an individual communicates and behaves. They are compromised in social communication, exhibiting atypical social behaviors, and may even walk away in the middle of an interaction.
There are several things that can cause speech delays, such as hearing loss, physical problems in the roof of the mouth, learning disabilities, or certain diagnosable conditions like autism spectrum disorder or cerebral palsy.
What is Nonverbal Autism? Nonverbal autism means your child may not talk at all or may talk very little. A child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that has not begun to verbalize by the age of four is considered to have nonverbal autism. About 25% to 50% of children are impacted by nonverbal autism.
There is no cure for autism, but various interventions and ongoing accommodations at work or school can make life easier for autistic people. Some autistic children have few or no symptoms in adulthood, especially if they get supportive therapy. However, this is rare.
Long-term research that involved following a group of individuals with autism for two decades indicates that the average life expectancy for some autistic people is about 39 years. Furthermore, this population generally succumbed to health complications about 20 years earlier than individuals who do not have autism.
Level 3 autism cannot be cured. However, it is possible to help autistic individuals reduce their symptoms and achieve a higher quality of life. While there is no known cure for autism, an early diagnosis can facilitate individuals getting the appropriate treatments and intervention needed for better outcomes.
Some children with autism smile to show they're happy but don't share their enjoyment. Others show little facial expression or have flat affect and rarely smile so you may not know when they're happy.
Children with autism often have speech delays, but speech delays alone do not mean your child has autism. Autistic speech delays usually occur along with other communication issues, such as not using gestures, not responding to their name, and not showing interest in connecting with people.
It's something you're born with. Signs of autism might be noticed when you're very young, or not until you're older. If you're autistic, you're autistic your whole life. Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a "cure".
Speak in short phrases, such as “roll ball” or “throw ball.” Keep following this “one-up” rule: Generally use phrases with one more word than your child is using. Follow your child's interests. Rather than interrupting your child's focus, follow along with words. Using the one-up rule, narrate what your child is doing.
In severe cases, an autistic child may never learn to speak or make eye contact. But many children with autism and other autism spectrum disorders are able to live relatively normal lives.