Brain & Nervous System Guide to Autism Symptoms Is Late Speech a Sign of Autism? By Lisa Jo Rudy facebook twitter linkedin Lisa Jo Rudy, MDiv, is a writer, advocate, author, and consultant specializing in the field of autism. Learn about our editorial process Lisa Jo Rudy Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on September 29, 2019 Steven Gans, MD, is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on November 13, 2019 Print Speech delays are very common among children with autism, but they are also common in children without autism. There are, however, very real differences between autistic speech delays and other types of delays. In many cases, these differences are evident even to non-experts. Significant speech delays are always a cause for some concern, but they are by no means always a sign of autism. How Autistic Speech Delays Differ As typical babies develop, they quickly learn that communication is the key to getting what they want. Long before they learn to use spoken language, little ones make eye contact, pull on sleeves, babble, point, and otherwise work hard to get their point across to adults and older children. Over time, typical children learn to use spoken language because they get positive results from doing so. In addition, typical children: Are highly motivated by social responses such as smiles and hugsAre naturally inclined to imitate that actions of people around themAre likely to spend much more time observing people than observing thingsTend to be social beings who become quickly bored or lonely when left alone Children with autism, however, have social communication challenges that stand in the way of any kind of meaningful social connection. While children with high functioning autism may be much more socially inclined than those with more severe autism, the same issues hold true across the spectrum. Thus, for example, a child with autism: Maybe more motivated by his or her own interests than by social responsesMay rarely or never imitate others' actionsBe more interested in things than in peopleBe content when left alone to pursue their own interests All of these differences lead to different behaviors, desires, and outcomes. Children with autism may have a harder time using or understanding non-verbal communication (pointing, pulling, smiling, etc.). They may also have less interest in social communication for its own sake. Symptoms of Autistic Speech Delay The difference between autistic speech delays and other delays is fairly easy to spot. If you recognize your child in Bobby, it may be a good idea to consider having your child evaluated for ASD. Johnny isn't talking at all at age 2. But while he isn't using words yet, he's using babbling sounds and body language to communicate with the people around him. He's pointing, pulling people toward things he wants, and engaging with other people. He actively enjoys playing with his parents and siblings and is frustrated when left alone to take a nap. Bobby is the same age as Johnny. Bobby does have a few words, but he doesn't use them to communicate. Instead, he repeats them over and over to himself. Bobby has not yet figured out how to use gestures, sounds, or words to ask for something he wants. His parents find it almost impossible to hold his attention for more than a few seconds. Johnny may have a speech delay that requires some form of early intervention; possibilities include (but are not limited to) hearing loss, apraxia of speech, and cognitive challenges. Bobby, however, despite the fact that he does have the use of a few words, maybe exhibiting early signs of autism. Speech-Related Signs of Autism In addition to late speech, there are a number of other communication-related issues that could be signs of autism. In general, children with autism are more likely to: Fail or be slow to respond to their name or other verbal attempts to gain their attentionFail or be slow to develop gestures, such as pointing and showing things to othersCoo and babble in the first year of life, but then stop doing soDevelop language at a delayed paceLearn to communicate using pictures or their own sign languageSpeak only in single words or repeat certain phrases over and over, seeming unable to combine words into meaningful sentencesRepeat words or phrases that they hear, a condition called echolaliaUse words that seem odd, out of place, or have a special meaning known only to those familiar with the child's way of communicating 13 Speech Issues Seen in Children With Autism A Word From Verywell Speech delays and differences are a hallmark of autism, and even those individuals who develop speech at a typical rate as toddlers may have a difficult time using spoken language effectively as they get older. They may use different vocal patterns, have a hard time reading or using body language, or continue to repeat sounds as a form of self-stimulation rather than as a means of communication. Speech delays alone, however, are not an indication of autism. If you do have concerns (even if your pediatrician does not) it's a good idea to have your child evaluated. If your child does have a significant speech delay or signs of autism, you'll be able to start therapy early and give your child the best chance of gaining typical communication skills. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Zengin-Akkuş P, Çelen-Yoldaş T, Kurtipek G, Özmert EN. Speech delay in toddlers: Are they only `late talkers`?. Turk J Pediatr. 2018;60(2):165‐172. doi:10.24953/turkjped.2018.02.008 Ellis Weismer S, Lord C, Esler A. Early language patterns of toddlers on the autism spectrum compared to toddlers with developmental delay. J Autism Dev Disord. 2010;40(10):1259‐1273. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-0983-1 Mody M, Belliveau JW. Speech and Language Impairments in Autism: Insights from Behavior and Neuroimaging. N Am J Med Sci (Boston). 2013;5(3):157‐161. doi:10.7156/v5i3p157 Tager-Flusberg H. Risk Factors Associated With Language in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Clues to Underlying Mechanisms. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2016;59(1):143‐154. doi:10.1044/2015_JSLHR-L-15-0146 Additional Reading U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. Autism Spectrum Disorder (NIH Publication 19-MH-8084). Updated December 2018. nimh.nih.gov U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Communication Problems in Children (NIH Pub. No. 97–4315). Updated April 2020. nidcd.nih.gov U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Speech and Language Developmental Milestones (NIH Publication No. 13-4781). Updated March 6, 2017. nidcd.nih.gov