In everyday lives, people seem to under-appreciate the benefits of communication and language. After all, we use it every day in different ways possible giving us the medium to enable express our thoughts and ideas to others; however, the privilege of speech and verbal communication is not bestowed to approximately thirty percent of all cases diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This disability doesn’t necessarily mean the complete inability to communicate; however, to do so efficiently, people around the child with verbal communication difficulty should make modifications and adjustments. There are other factors in communication such as body language, the tone of voice, facial expressions. These can be absent or in congruent in a child with autism spectrum disorder as well. Few scientific investigations are done on the subject. Little is known about the thought progressions of individuals who can’t speak. Nevertheless, many studies are currently ongoing, and innovation is opening doors for communication and understanding.
Nonverbal Autism
Nonverbal Autism affects almost third of the total number of individuals with autism. As the name suggests, children having this characteristic do not have communication skills or with only little words. The term, “nonverbal autism” is not an official diagnosis because of the complexity of defining the difference between verbal or nonverbal individuals.
Some can develop the ability to utilize few words properly but incapable of carrying a vital conversation.
Others can physically utter the words but cannot expressively use the words. They might mimic scripts from televisions or expressions taught by teachers, but mostly they use these texts to soothe their emotional conflicts rather than communicating ideas or desires.
Few numbers of nonverbal individuals can’t use verbal language efficiently but can communicate through type or written form. For instance, the use sign language, picture cards, and communication gadgets.
Lack of Intelligence
In the measurement of the IQ score, scoring 70 or below is labeled as intellectually disabled. It was presumed that all children with autism who are not capable of talking are intellectually disabled because they would get IQ scores below 70. Recently, it was revealed that the traditional tests measuring intelligence are an imperfect tool in this condition. It is recommended to use the TONI (Test of Nonverbal Intelligence) which can best evaluate the children with their IQ levels.
Another method is to observe the children in their familiar settings. Frequently, these children may fail to collaborate with the aim of tests, but they prove to tackle cognitive challenges like forming puzzles and finishing complex problems. Despite facts in evaluating autism, school districts or agencies still rely on paper tests evaluations than observations.
Learn to Talk
The most prominent mystery about autism of this type is what causes the non-utterance of words and inability to communicate appropriately. Some experts believe that they have co-morbidity such as apraxia of speech. It is a disorder of the brain that makes spoken language difficult, but the incidence is only minute. Most autism spectrum children don’t have apraxia; they just don’t speak. Through technology like electroencephalograms and MRIs, a better understanding of what’s causing the problem is obtained.