Finding Their Voice: Communication Strategies for Non-Verbal Children with Autism

We live in a speech-centered world. So, when a child has non-verbal autism, it can feel as if they don’t know how to communicate at all. In reality, they simply communicate differently. Communication strategies for non-verbal children can vary wildly, but all of them open up the doors for children with autism.

At Skills on the Hill Pediatric Therapy, our pediatric speech therapists have extensive experience working with children with non-verbal autism. We recognize that speech isn’t the only way to communicate, and we work closely with kids to help them find unique ways to express their thoughts and feelings.

Autism is a complex condition–and non-verbal autism even more so. It’s important to develop personalized strategies that work for the individual child, rather than trying to put them into ill-fitting boxes.

We want to use this article to explore some of the different communication strategies for non-verbal children with autism. If you think your child might benefit from them, request an appointment at our Washington, DC, and Arlington, VA clinics today!

Understanding Non-Verbal Autism

Autism is a developmental disorder that can create challenges in communication and social skills. People with autism experience the condition in different ways, and, as such, have different needs.

For some people with autism, the condition causes them to not use words when speaking. It’s important to understand that they understand words and language. They may have no difficulty reading or writing. Rather, they don’t speak words.

Furthermore, some children with autism may speak words occasionally. This is known as being “minimally verbal.”

In both cases, speech therapy can help your child find the best way to communicate.

Beyond Speech: Unique Communication Strategies for Non-Verbal Children

Our speech therapists will work closely with your child to find ways to communicate without spoken language. Collectively, these techniques are known as AACs (augmentative and alternative communication). Here are some examples:

• Writing and Drawing: As your child gets older and gains literacy skills, they may discover that writing is a comfortable communication method. Drawing pictures also works!
• Gestures and Facial Expressions: Many non-verbal children use gestures or non-verbal sounds to express themselves. We can help you and your loved ones better understand these gestures. Some children with autism might also benefit from learning sign language, as it is entirely gesture-based.
• Picture-Based Communication: This is a way of communication in which your child can point at images representing frequently used words to communicate. There are different variations on this idea, such as communication boards and PECS (picture exchange communication system).
• Text-to-Speech Devices: There are many text-to-speech devices available, including apps you can download to a phone! Your child can type in what they want to say, and the device will say it for them.

These represent just a handful of communication strategies for non-verbal children. The Skills on the Hill Pediatric Therapy team will work to find the specific strategies that suit your child’s needs. We’ll also work with you and other loved ones to ensure you can effectively communicate, too.

Ready to help your child find their voice? Schedule an initial consultation with us today!