Blog Series By Ashley Stevenson - The Power of Play with Non-Verbal Children
There is a broad spectrum for the development of speech and language amongst children. However, some children may fall behind in their speech and language milestones. Delayed speech and language can be a cause of worry for many parents and carers. This article is to help bust some myths about non-verbal presentations in children and to give you some tips about what to do if you are worried.
Myth: If a child does not speak by six years old, they will never speak.
Fact: There is plenty of research that suggests some non-verbal children can develop speech after the age of six years old. With time and intervention your child may develop speech and language skills, or other non-verbal methods of communication, even if they haven’t talked by the age of six.
Every child will have their own trajectory. When possible, early intervention and specialised support is important. If you notice the following signs in your child, it could be an indictor to access your GP, paediatrician, or maternal child health nurse to discuss your concerns and access early intervention.
- Not babbling by 12 months.
- Not pointing at objects by 14 months.
- Not speaking meaningful words by 15 months.
- Not imitating others by the age of 18 months.
Myth: All non-verbal children have Autism
Fact: There are many reasons a child may present as non verbal, autism is only one possibility. If you are concerned that your child is non verbal the following steps may help you to identify the underlying causes and access the supports you need.
- Discuss your concerns with your General Practitioner or Maternal Child Health Nurse.
- Seek a referral to a paediatrician.
- Seek engagement with a speech pathologist.
- Apply to the NDIS under the Early Childhood Approach.
- You can get information about how to apply by visiting their website: Getting help through the early childhood approach | NDIS
Myth: If my child isn’t speaking, they aren’t communicating.
Fact: There are lots of ways non verbal children may communicate with the world. This may be through gestures, sounds, or movement. Look out for the ways that your child seeks to communicate with you non-verbally and respond to these. For example, if your child lifts their arms to be picked up you may verbalise “up” as you lift your child and complete the request. This will not only help your child associate the word with the action, but also give them confidence in their ability to communicate and have their needs met.
References
Applied Behaviour Analysis EDU (2023). 6 Strategies for Encouraging a Non-Verbal Child to Communicate. Copyright Wiley University 6 Strategies – Encouraging a Non-Verbal Child to Communicate (appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org)
Dr David Lee and Louise Sanders (2018). Reluctant Speaking and Selective Mutism Resource Pack 4th Edition. Copyright Leicestershire County Council. Reluctant Speaking and Selective Mutism Resource Pack (leicestershire.gov.uk)
Pereira et al (2021). Diagnosing selective mutism: a critical review of measures for clinical practice and research. Published in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Copyright Springer.
NHS (2023). Selective Mutism. Copyright NHS Selective mutism – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Koegel LK, Bryan KM, Su P, Vaidya M, Camarata S (2019) Intervention for Non-verbal and Minimally-Verbal Individuals with Autism: A Systematic Review. Int J Pediatr Res 5:056. doi.org/10.23937/2469-5769/1510056
Paul, R.. (2002). Disorders of communication. In M. Lewis (Ed.),Child and adolescent psychiatry: A comprehensive textbook (3rd ed., pp. 612-621). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
