Have any non-verbal autistic 2 year olds ever learned to speak?

I've been a speech/language pathologist for 25 years, and have worked with many autistic children. The one lesson that I learned early and have been retaught a million times, is that you can NEVER give up and you can NEVER predict who will accomplish what. I have worked with a little girl who's parents were told that she would never speak; I worked on improving sentence structure with her. I worked with a child who was labelled as autistic at 2, Autistic Spectrum at 4, PDD at 5, Aspberger's at 7 and LD at 9. He's in college now. I wish you success, and luck, and faith and good therapists whom you can really trust.

I work with children with autism, and we have two programs for children with autism at our preschool. The chances of a child talking are dependent on the severity of the autism, the staff who work with the child, and the therapy services your child receives. Since your child already has 4 words, chances are good that he will develop a good vocabulary with help. Talk to your child's pediatrician to get your child an IFSP (Individual Family Service Plan) for children with special needs. You can also contact your local school district for information or a local Regional Center. You can set up speech and occupational therapy for your child, as well as getting services for your child based on his autism. Occupational therapy will help your child with the sensory issues related to feeding, as well as with speech and other sensory issues. The most important thing you can do is to keep trying new foods with your child to expose them to different textures. Exposure to new things (even with temper tantrums) will help your child develop an ability to cope with change (something most children with autism have a difficult time with). In my experience, children with autism have just as much chance of learning to talk, with the help of therapists and dedicated parents, as children who are typically developing. Do not give up hope... hard work and dedication will bring results.

thats actually a good sign----many don't start talking until they are 4. Its not definate that he will use a lot of language--but its a good possibility- I knew a child that didn't even make a sound--not even babble at 2--and was speaking in full sentences a year later.. anotehr that didn't start talking until he was 4--and although his language was awkward--he did speak in full sentences and had conversations a few years later- another that only had about 50 single words at 3 was lo longer in special ed by 1st grade...

Continue talking and listening as much as possible. He may not communicate in a regular way, but I bet he does learn to speak at least some. He may communicate in other ways more fully, though....and that's okay! At two years, it's hard to tell when the autism begins and where you are getting normal developmental issues.... think terrible twos! At 26 months, you are in prime time! I'd practice to him pointing to object to help develop his vocabulary with certainty.

My grandson was like that at 2 , I worried his doctors not so much until he turned three. They had him tested and diagnosed with autism, then they entered him in special ed classes at the local elementary school. He was so excited to be with other children he's talking and learning so much now. He surprises us everyday and ask us what's that to just about everything. It's like a light bulb went on for him. The food is also a problem he just doesn't eat and when he does its carbs, but he's stick thin. Check out the schools. Good luck

Yes your son should be assesed for speech, ot and physical therapy as well as have ABA services, Assistive technology assessment among other types of strategies. LEarnign to speak is a definite possibiltiy for your son the earlier he gets the tools to learn to speak with a therapist that is workign onthis the quicker he will learn its not easy but it does happen. GOOd luck also you might want to visit this site there are so many sites out there for chidlren with autism you should look into joining a group there is so much to learn from the parents of children that are older, your son will achieve I really recommend this book its a must read for a parent with autism Overcomign autism by lynn koegel GOOd Luck!

Hun has he been formally diagnosed with autism ? Because it wasn't till Thomas was three when he went for assessment (in the UK anyway) Thomas was totally non verbal at two i wouldn't say your son was non verbal because he can say somethings, Thomas at this age never talked just screamed, he is 10 now and still 'classed non verbal' although he can say somethings because of his age he is still unable to communicate as a ten year old should, you should have been given help with speech therapy and also has his hearing been checked as we had all this done first before Thomas went for assessment, and as i say never give up hope Thomas is proof of this, talk and talk more to him he will pick up some day after all he is just over two not many two year olds talk well anyway, you just have to have Patience

first off thats 5 words. just give the kid time, you can never be certain at the age of 2