In Reply to: At what age do autistic kids start to verbalize/talk posted by AL on April 13, 2000 at 07:51:14:

Hi,
We were at a conference last October at Portland, Maine where Anne Donnelan and Martha Leary presented. The same question that you asked was asked of them by the parent of a young nonverbal autistic child. Upon hearing the question, Anne and Martha asked one of the members of the audience, a "nonverbal" autistic young lady, when she started to talk. It was revealed that the "nonverbal" young lady started to talk when she was about 37 or 38 years of age. This young lady then got up in front of the audience and spoke briefly extemporaneously to the audience. Those of us who have known her prior to this were very pleased for her new found voice.

Another "nonverbal" autistic young lady, Lucy Harrison", now a college student, will verbally deliver her keynote address at the May 2, 2000 FC Conference at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. I think that Lucy was also able to read aloud her presentation several yrs ago. I'm sure this will be taped and you can get more info on the conference and on obtaining the tape from the FC Institute at Syracuse University.

Our "nonverbal" 33 yr old son's story sounds a lot like your son's story. Our son has started to put words into complete sentenses since starting secretin in Dec 1999. Up to Dec 1999 he would use 1 or 2 words, usually "food" related words.

I dont think there is any magic age when the "nonverbal" children will talk. I think that many will talk when they are ready to and when they can.

Keep up the hope and keep talking to your son and play books on tape for him so that he can use what he hears as models for his own talking when he is ready.
Wally W.

: I have a three year old nonverbal autistic son. He grunts, shrieks, cries and hums. He has even echoed and said "cow" for a very short period - but he has lost that. I have heard that if kids are going to talk, they will start by five. I want to know other parents experience. Has speech therapy really made a difference in a kid aged three?