For those that had delayed speech

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When did you acquire speech? What is your speech like now?

My son is pre-verbal at this point. I do know that communication in any form is the most important thing, but as a parent, I can't help but wish him to be verbal. My question is, do those that have speech delays from ASD and eventually acquire speech tend to speak relatively normal, or tend to remain more challenged with it throughout life? Thanks all for any input.

I didn't speak until age 5 1/2. Within a few months after I started speaking, my speech was "normal" for a kid of my age in most ways.

I speak very fast. I "clutter" sometimes (I seem to combine words when combining them is not called for). I'm not always able to say what I want to say. I stutter and stammer sometimes.

Otherwise, I'm fairly normal in my speech.

I didn't speak until 5, then spent the rest of my childhood in speech therapy. I still speak monotone and with a lisp.

I forgot to ask: How old is your son?

Age 2 (so im told)but then I developed selective mutism till 4. My speech is pretty much normal but sometimes I have trouble finding a word I need. I know most people do that sometimes but I do that a lot. People don't notice though. I'm not sure if I always had trouble finding words, because as a lot kid I only spoke spontaneously to family and didn't talk unless someone spoke to me first or I had to ask a question or answer a question. Inside my head in always know what i mean to say.

My mother told me that I started "talking" at a normal age, but did not start "speaking" until I was 3 or 4. I could quote starfox above me for my speaking problems.

My grandmother pointed out that I wasn't speaking properly when I was about 7. They sent me to elocution lessons. I ended up sounding like I was a toff. I was from a council estate. I got bullied even worse. I tried to revert and swear a lot. That didn't help. Helped a bit I suppose but for me it was a depressing outcome.

I am fluent in speaking and sound normal.
No one can tell that I spoke late (age .
A lasting effect (or cause) of late speech is not thinking verbally.

Age 22 I was illiterate but slowly learning to construct sentences.
Age 27 was when I was able to have good speech.

*Word selection* was the difficulty for the literacy and speech.

Writing/speaking now is not natural; it's like I have to construct the sequence of words. This is why people may think something is wrong with me, because my speech construction eventually reveals it.

Were you illiterate at age 22 in terms of reading books/newspapers?

Great thread!
Certainly helpful to this father of a 4yo nonverbal (well, maybe more like preverbal) kid.

Other than verbal speech, how is your kid communicating?

Well, I knew basic words. But yes with regards to comprehension.

In high school my mom would write my writing assignments.

I would go to school and repeat what my parents would say, so kids would think I was smart. Since everyone said how dumb I was.

@kraftiekortie: Screaming, touching, taking is brother's toys in a way that the brother will notice ...

Generally though he seems to "avoid" verbal communication - i.e. in a situation where other kids would say "I want this thing there" he'll say nothing and just take it, or figure out a way to get it, even if it involves sneaking and climbing on furniture or whatever.

More worrying, he also hardly makes a sound when he gets physically hurt or stuck somewhere. Apparently the concept of "calling for help" has not found its way into his brain....? He does scream though, very loudly, when his feelings are hurt.

According to my records, I did not put 2 words together until ages 3-4. I had a severe language disorder and a moderate articulation disorder when I entered Kindergarten. By age 6 3/4, however, my speech was excellent. I was monotone until about 4th grade, however.

Today, I can speak normally, with normal intonation. I may slip a bit here and there, but I can generally pass for neurotypical, according to others.

You've certainly gone far in your adulthood, LovenotHate. It's inspiring, actually.

As for you child, I'm wondering if something like PECS would help. There's a very good thread, in the Parents Section, dealing with people who are not "mild" in their autism. They have come up with many solutions. Then there's Bbnnyrr (no quite the right spelling), who had no speech until age 8, yet is now an autism researcher.