Speech Disorders Simplified: Autism Spectrum Disorder vs. Developmental Language Delays
Morgan Barton CCC-SLP
When children demonstrate delayed language skills, caregivers may ask themselves, “Does my child have autism or is it something else?” The tricky thing is that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder can present with some of the same features that children with only a language delay present. In order to gain a better understanding of the type of delay your child may have, it’s important to pay attention to any “red flags” they may be demonstrating.
Why is this important?
Early identification leads to early intervention! Determining if your child has Autism or a language delay helps therapists to tailor their interventions to meet the child’s specific needs in order to set them up for success. Looking out for the following characteristics can help you get a better sense of if your child possibly has Autism Spectrum Disorder or if they have a developmental language delay.
What should I look for?
Pretend play red flags
The child does not demonstrate how familiar objects are used (talking on a phone, pouring from a cup, etc.) by 15 months of age and is not demonstrating pretending in play such as feeding a baby or petting a stuffed animal.
Eye contact/eye gaze red flags
The child presents with difficulty looking at and attending to faces. They can also present with difficulty using their gaze to look at items others point to.
Gesture red flags
The child has difficulty pointing to and showing items of interest after 15 months.
Responding to name red flags
The child does not consistently respond to their name by 12 months.
Imitation red flags
The child has difficulty imitating movements such as waving and clapping. They may also have difficulty with imitating sounds and words by 16-18 months.
Language development red flags
The child may have difficulties with the ability to use and understand language. Their expressive language skills may be more developed than their receptive language skills.
Non-verbal communication red flags
The child may have difficulty with the use of or understanding of gestures. They may have limited facial expressions and use of body language.
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s language development, please contact Hogg Therapy to set up an evaluation with our experienced therapists! You can also use our FREE Interactive Screening Tool to see if your child is on track with their developmental milestones. Please visit our website or call us at 859-353-3666 for more information.
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