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How Speech Delays Differ
Speech Delay Traits
Related Traits
Speech delays are very common amongchildren with autism, but they are also common in children without autism. While significant speech delays are always a cause for concern, they are not inherently anautismtrait and may be due to other issues, such as hearing loss.
Speech delays in children with autism characteristically occur with othercommunication issuessuch as a lack of eye contact, social and emotional passivity, not gesturing or pointing to objects, or a fixation on objects.
This article will cover the reasons for speech delays and help you recognize when they are related to autism.
Verywell / Hugo Lin
How Speech Delays Differ in Autism
As most babies develop, they quickly learn that communication is the key to getting what they want. Long before they learn spoken language, they will make eye contact, pull on sleeves, babble, point, and physically or facially interact to get their point across.
Over time,neurotypicalchildren (children without autism) learn to use spoken language because they get positive results from doing so. In addition, most neurotypical children:
On the other hand, children with autism may have communication problems that make social connections difficult.
Whilehigh-functioningchildren who require lower levels of support may be more socially inclined than those with higher support needs, the same issues and challenges hold true across theautism spectrum.
For example, a child with autism may:
All of these characteristics can lead to significant social challenges. This includes difficulty interpreting nonverbal cues like body language, having little interest in engaging with other kids or caregivers, or having heightened anxiety when faced with changes in routines.
Speech Delay Traits With Autism
Johnny may have a speech delay that requires other forms of intervention. Possibilities causes include:
Speech development in children with autism can vary considerably. Some start using words earlier than neurotypical children, while others are nonverbal well into adulthood.
However, studies suggest that children with autism typically start producing words at 36 months, whereas a neurotypical child starts at around 12 to 18 months.
There are other red flags that point to the possibility of autism. These involve the absence of communication or social skills one would expect at certain ages, from 6 months to 2 years.
From 6 to 12 months of age, traits of autism include:
By 12 months:
By 16 months:
By 24 months:
Other Speech-Related Autism Traits
In addition to delayed speech, there are a number of other communication-related issues that could be autism traits.
In general, children with autism:
What if a Child Never Speaks?Around 25% of children do not develop the ability to speak.However, these children may be able to learn to communicate in one of several waysSign languagePicture Exchange Communication System (PECS), which uses symbols and pictures to teach communicationAugmentative communication (AAC), which may use a speech-generating device or apps on a tablet or cellphone to communicate
What if a Child Never Speaks?
Around 25% of children do not develop the ability to speak.However, these children may be able to learn to communicate in one of several waysSign languagePicture Exchange Communication System (PECS), which uses symbols and pictures to teach communicationAugmentative communication (AAC), which may use a speech-generating device or apps on a tablet or cellphone to communicate
Around 25% of children do not develop the ability to speak.However, these children may be able to learn to communicate in one of several ways
Summary
Children with autism often have speech delays, but that alone does not mean your child has autism. Speech delays with autism 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.
Other possible causes of speech delays include hearing loss and cognitive problems.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mody M, Belliveau JW.Speech and language impairments in autism: insights from behavior and neuroimaging.N Am J Med Sci (Boston). 2013;5(3):157‐161. doi:10.7156/v5i3p157Zengin-Akkuş P, Çelen-Yoldaş T, Kurtipek G, Özmert EN.Speech delay in toddlers: are they only late talkers?Turk J Pediatr. 2018;60(2):165‐172. doi:10.24953/turkjped.2018.02.008LaGasse AB.Social outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder: a review of music therapy outcomes.Patient Relat Outcome Meas.2017;8:23–32. doi:10.2147/PROM.S106267Mayo J, Chlebowski C, Fein DA, Eigsti I-M.Age of first words predicts cognitive ability and adaptive skills in children with ASD.J Autism Dev Disord. 2013;43(2):253-264. doi:10.1007%2Fs10803-012-1558-0Austism Spectrum Disorder Foundation.About autism.Additional ReadingNational Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Autism spectrum disorder: communication problems in children.National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Speech and language developmental milestones.National Institute of Mental Health.Autism spectrum disorder.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mody M, Belliveau JW.Speech and language impairments in autism: insights from behavior and neuroimaging.N Am J Med Sci (Boston). 2013;5(3):157‐161. doi:10.7156/v5i3p157Zengin-Akkuş P, Çelen-Yoldaş T, Kurtipek G, Özmert EN.Speech delay in toddlers: are they only late talkers?Turk J Pediatr. 2018;60(2):165‐172. doi:10.24953/turkjped.2018.02.008LaGasse AB.Social outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder: a review of music therapy outcomes.Patient Relat Outcome Meas.2017;8:23–32. doi:10.2147/PROM.S106267Mayo J, Chlebowski C, Fein DA, Eigsti I-M.Age of first words predicts cognitive ability and adaptive skills in children with ASD.J Autism Dev Disord. 2013;43(2):253-264. doi:10.1007%2Fs10803-012-1558-0Austism Spectrum Disorder Foundation.About autism.Additional ReadingNational Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Autism spectrum disorder: communication problems in children.National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Speech and language developmental milestones.National Institute of Mental Health.Autism spectrum disorder.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mody M, Belliveau JW.Speech and language impairments in autism: insights from behavior and neuroimaging.N Am J Med Sci (Boston). 2013;5(3):157‐161. doi:10.7156/v5i3p157Zengin-Akkuş P, Çelen-Yoldaş T, Kurtipek G, Özmert EN.Speech delay in toddlers: are they only late talkers?Turk J Pediatr. 2018;60(2):165‐172. doi:10.24953/turkjped.2018.02.008LaGasse AB.Social outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder: a review of music therapy outcomes.Patient Relat Outcome Meas.2017;8:23–32. doi:10.2147/PROM.S106267Mayo J, Chlebowski C, Fein DA, Eigsti I-M.Age of first words predicts cognitive ability and adaptive skills in children with ASD.J Autism Dev Disord. 2013;43(2):253-264. doi:10.1007%2Fs10803-012-1558-0Austism Spectrum Disorder Foundation.About autism.
Mody M, Belliveau JW.Speech and language impairments in autism: insights from behavior and neuroimaging.N Am J Med Sci (Boston). 2013;5(3):157‐161. doi:10.7156/v5i3p157
Zengin-Akkuş P, Çelen-Yoldaş T, Kurtipek G, Özmert EN.Speech delay in toddlers: are they only late talkers?Turk J Pediatr. 2018;60(2):165‐172. doi:10.24953/turkjped.2018.02.008
LaGasse AB.Social outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder: a review of music therapy outcomes.Patient Relat Outcome Meas.2017;8:23–32. doi:10.2147/PROM.S106267
Mayo J, Chlebowski C, Fein DA, Eigsti I-M.Age of first words predicts cognitive ability and adaptive skills in children with ASD.J Autism Dev Disord. 2013;43(2):253-264. doi:10.1007%2Fs10803-012-1558-0
Austism Spectrum Disorder Foundation.About autism.
National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Autism spectrum disorder: communication problems in children.National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Speech and language developmental milestones.National Institute of Mental Health.Autism spectrum disorder.
National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Autism spectrum disorder: communication problems in children.
National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Speech and language developmental milestones.
National Institute of Mental Health.Autism spectrum disorder.
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