Is your child having trouble communicating? Surprisingly, over 10% of preschool-aged children experience speech and language difficulties. A speech delay or difficulty affects many children; in some instances, it is an indicator of another issue, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For parents on autism screening waiting lists, the uncertainty of whether their child has a speech delay or autism can be overwhelming.
What is a speech delay?
The act of verbalizing, articulating, and manipulating the sounds used to make words is referred to as speech. A delay in speech development is a normal and even common phenomenon. This implies a child may follow standard speech milestones, but on their own timeline and at a slower rate than others their age. This child may also have trouble coordinating their tongue, lips, or other essential muscles to generate precise sounds because of a speech motor issue.
A speech delay vs. a language delay
All children progress at varying rates in terms of language and communication development. One of the signs of a speech delay is difficulty with word pronunciation or sound formation. In contrast, a child with a language delay could have problems comprehending words and constructing complete sentences. To be clear, a language delay is not the same as a speech delay. If a child has a language delay, they may use words in a non-functional way, such as using labels to express their desires and needs rather than actual sentences.
Autism and speech delay
The symptoms of autism spectrum disorder are well-known to include language impairments and learning problems. A child’s speech delay is one indicator of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although it is not diagnostic of the disorder in and of itself. ASD’s impact on a person’s ability to communicate and interact socially is unique compared to other forms of language disorders. These children can often have trouble with social communication because of issues interpreting gestures, facial expressions, and other conversational norms. Some children use repetitive words or phrases as a means of self-stimulation.
Children with ASD can also vary significantly in their linguistic development; some may begin speaking at an earlier age than average, while others may never speak at all. Even if a toddler with ASD shows typical speech development, they may still have difficulty later in life.
Speech delay: How can we tell it isn’t autism?
Children with a speech delay may lag behind their classmates in reaching these developmental markers; however, they are still influenced by the social responses of others, and these individuals also include those considered “late talkers.” Late talkers, and other children with speech delays attempt to interact and communicate in ways that distinguish them from children whose speech delays are connected to autism. They may babble, point, and utilize other nonverbal cues to meet their needs. Your child is more likely not to have autism if they are not yet verbally talking but are actively interacting with others and using these other forms of communication. They are socially motivated by connections with others in their lives, including their families and friends. Because of this, they like being involved in the focus of attention and are driven to act similarly to those around them.
What are some typical early speech milestones I should be looking for?
Learning to identify a speech delay in your child’s early years is crucial for getting them the appropriate treatment they need to make up for any lost ground. The first place to start distinguishing between a speech delay and autism is the child’s use of pointing at objects. Children should be pointing by the time they are 18 months old and certainly by the time they are two. Your child should indicate what they want – including pointing to get your attention. This is an example of “joint attention,” and it shows that your child is trying to share something with you. Lack of pointing is a crucial red flag for autism, so even if they don’t have the words to label the object of interest, pointing with their index finger to show you is a strong indicator it’s not autism.
Cooing, babbling, and eventually stringing together words and whole phrases are all part of typical speech development. An average two-year-old will have a vocabulary of 50 words, which will expand to over 1,000 words by the time they reach three. A typically developing child at age three will start to use their own and other people’s names in social situations and have around 1000 different words in their vocabulary. They can construct simple sentences, create plurals, ask questions, and tell stories. However, your child may be facing an autism-related speech delay if they are still not speaking by age two and are not making any other attempts to communicate and connect with you and others through body language.
Signs of autism-related speech delay
The following are indications and symptoms of autism-related speech development issues to watch for if you are concerned that your child may be experiencing a speech delay:
Babbles and coos when a baby; then suddenly stops
Does not mimic vocalizations between the ages of 6 and 12 months
Not saying simple words between the ages of 12 and 18 months
Not able to create basic phrases by the age of 18–24 months
Doesn’t respond to name or attempts at gaining their attention
Relies on gestural or body language to communicate and/or takes a longer time to acquire these skills than their peers
Repetitively uses the same phrases or similar words or repeats phrases they hear around them
Trouble understanding simple instructions
Uses words or phrases that don’t make sense within the content of the situation
It is essential to remember that the behaviors mentioned above do not necessarily indicate that your child’s speech delay is caused by autism. There are more developmental reasons why kids may not be speaking yet. These can involve hearing impairment, cognitive regression, learning disabilities, and apraxia of speech (issues with muscle control).
When you understand the differences between autism and speech delay, you can better assess whether your child needs speech therapy or early intervention for autism. An ABA therapist can help you determine the root of the issue and provide effective treatment. They will assess your child’s ability to understand and communicate through speech. They will also determine deficits in your child’s language and communication. Contact our team at Apollo for more questions about an autism assessment.
How to Tell the Difference Between Speech Delay and Autism
Is your child having trouble communicating? Surprisingly, over 10% of preschool-aged children experience speech and language difficulties. A speech delay or difficulty affects many children; in some instances, it is an indicator of another issue, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For parents on autism screening waiting lists, the uncertainty of whether their child has a speech delay or autism can be overwhelming.
What is a speech delay?
The act of verbalizing, articulating, and manipulating the sounds used to make words is referred to as speech. A delay in speech development is a normal and even common phenomenon. This implies a child may follow standard speech milestones, but on their own timeline and at a slower rate than others their age. This child may also have trouble coordinating their tongue, lips, or other essential muscles to generate precise sounds because of a speech motor issue.
A speech delay vs. a language delay
All children progress at varying rates in terms of language and communication development. One of the signs of a speech delay is difficulty with word pronunciation or sound formation. In contrast, a child with a language delay could have problems comprehending words and constructing complete sentences. To be clear, a language delay is not the same as a speech delay. If a child has a language delay, they may use words in a non-functional way, such as using labels to express their desires and needs rather than actual sentences.
Autism and speech delay
The symptoms of autism spectrum disorder are well-known to include language impairments and learning problems. A child’s speech delay is one indicator of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although it is not diagnostic of the disorder in and of itself. ASD’s impact on a person’s ability to communicate and interact socially is unique compared to other forms of language disorders. These children can often have trouble with social communication because of issues interpreting gestures, facial expressions, and other conversational norms. Some children use repetitive words or phrases as a means of self-stimulation.
Children with ASD can also vary significantly in their linguistic development; some may begin speaking at an earlier age than average, while others may never speak at all. Even if a toddler with ASD shows typical speech development, they may still have difficulty later in life.
Speech delay: How can we tell it isn’t autism?
Children with a speech delay may lag behind their classmates in reaching these developmental markers; however, they are still influenced by the social responses of others, and these individuals also include those considered “late talkers.” Late talkers, and other children with speech delays attempt to interact and communicate in ways that distinguish them from children whose speech delays are connected to autism. They may babble, point, and utilize other nonverbal cues to meet their needs. Your child is more likely not to have autism if they are not yet verbally talking but are actively interacting with others and using these other forms of communication. They are socially motivated by connections with others in their lives, including their families and friends. Because of this, they like being involved in the focus of attention and are driven to act similarly to those around them.
What are some typical early speech milestones I should be looking for?
Learning to identify a speech delay in your child’s early years is crucial for getting them the appropriate treatment they need to make up for any lost ground. The first place to start distinguishing between a speech delay and autism is the child’s use of pointing at objects. Children should be pointing by the time they are 18 months old and certainly by the time they are two. Your child should indicate what they want – including pointing to get your attention. This is an example of “joint attention,” and it shows that your child is trying to share something with you. Lack of pointing is a crucial red flag for autism, so even if they don’t have the words to label the object of interest, pointing with their index finger to show you is a strong indicator it’s not autism.
Cooing, babbling, and eventually stringing together words and whole phrases are all part of typical speech development. An average two-year-old will have a vocabulary of 50 words, which will expand to over 1,000 words by the time they reach three. A typically developing child at age three will start to use their own and other people’s names in social situations and have around 1000 different words in their vocabulary. They can construct simple sentences, create plurals, ask questions, and tell stories. However, your child may be facing an autism-related speech delay if they are still not speaking by age two and are not making any other attempts to communicate and connect with you and others through body language.
Signs of autism-related speech delay
The following are indications and symptoms of autism-related speech development issues to watch for if you are concerned that your child may be experiencing a speech delay:
It is essential to remember that the behaviors mentioned above do not necessarily indicate that your child’s speech delay is caused by autism. There are more developmental reasons why kids may not be speaking yet. These can involve hearing impairment, cognitive regression, learning disabilities, and apraxia of speech (issues with muscle control).
When you understand the differences between autism and speech delay, you can better assess whether your child needs speech therapy or early intervention for autism. An ABA therapist can help you determine the root of the issue and provide effective treatment. They will assess your child’s ability to understand and communicate through speech. They will also determine deficits in your child’s language and communication. Contact our team at Apollo for more questions about an autism assessment.
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