Do all parents with severe ASD children want a cure?

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It's pretty definite that he comprehended what you said within that complex sentence.

Autism has a way of "blocking" because of sensory overload. When there is no overload, there is more comprehension.

I'm wondering: if you shared his enthusiasm for the music, would he "let you in?"

Vivaldi: Excellent taste!

If he has a cognitive delay--couldn't it be that it is, after all, a DELAY, and that he will attain certain milestones at a later date? Like being able to communicate with you verbally or even via something like PECS? What you describe...is a CONNECTION...a real CONNECTION. He RESPONDED to you.

Even people with something like Angelman's Syndrome, while they are usually severely cognitively delayed, can usually take care of their basic needs and communicate well (though not via speech, usually). Their receptive language is better than their expressive language. They tend to walk at something like 6 years old, and be toilet-trained at like 10 or 12 or so.

Autistic kids are notoriously stubborn. There will be light bulbs that go off, especially if you continue stimulating him. The problem is the unpredictability. I would be frustrated by the unpredictability as well.

Maybe he'll see something on Vivaldi while hearing his music, then (because it is his inclination), want to learn about Vivaldi. Or even about music. You never know with autistic kids, really. One might show severe symptoms, yet unexpectedly know something. They make connections. There's lots of instances of that in the literature.

I'm wondering if instructional tapes, made available to him (you might not see him reach for them for a long term--but one day, something will click, and he will want to look at a tape).

There are so many things available for autistic kids that were not available when I was young. All we had was cue cards and peg boards and the like.

Music & movement therapy might be something to get him into. My kids have done a camp for several years in the summer where they put together a musical play by the end of the week, with different routines and songs, and throughout the week they also do swimming. (I think the minimum age is at least 5 though). That kind of thing could be really great for a kid who likes to dance to music! It would incorporate those things he likes, but also require him to follow some directions. (The camp I'm thinking of has 1:1 aides for the kids who need a lot of support).

@-His mom- I know/knew a boy diagnosed with autism ( I haven't seen him in about 5 years now ) who first spoke when he was 6 years old. Until then he reportedly did not speak one work but would make the noise "uhuhuhuhu" and bang his head on the floor. He also didn't make eye contact at all until age 6. Then at 6 he looked at his brother and said something, I forget what he said if I was ever told but it was a single word. When I knew him he was 10 years old. At that age he did have an intellectual disability but it was moderate, not severe. He was in a special ed program but could do some basic academic work and he communicated relatively well. He could use speech for communication and ask for what he wanted and he could use full sentences that were understandable (not always the right syntax though). He had decent receptive language and would sometimes respond to his parents' or brother's requests but sometimes ignore them, he had problems paying attention. He had a connection with his mum and a a very strong connection with his brother. Whenever his brother came in the door he'd give him a huge hug.