Is Speech Delay in Toddlers a Sign of Autism?

Speech delay alone does not make a child autistic, although it is one of the most noticeable of all symptoms of autism in a toddler. It doesn't have to be a complete lack of speech, however. In many cases, the child with autism may speak, but with atypical speech patterns or problems.

Milestones

• A common milestone to look for is your toddler saying at least two to three words between 12 and 17 months. She should also try to imitate your simple words.

Babbling

• Lack of babbling between six and 11 months is another potential sign of a speech delay that can be caused by autism.

Gesturing

• Toddlers with autism who have speech delays typically will not try to communicate in any way, including gesturing.

Echolalia

• Echolalia is a frequent occurrence in toddlers with autism. Echolalia is repeating words, phrases and even complete conversations, often from TV or the radio. In some cases, the echolalia may mimic speech as the words will be appropriate to the situation.

Conversations

• Even if a toddler is talking, it may be considered a speech delay if the child cannot take part in a conversation. Many autistic toddlers do not have good attention spans, especially if it is about something outside their own narrow range of interests.

Idiosyncratic Language

• Toddlers with autism are often unable to understand the meaning of a word if it is not literal. For example, if told to watch their feet, they will often stare at their feet, not understanding that it means to look where they're going.