What's the Difference Between Speech Delay and Autism?

HUGE disclaimer: I am not saying that diagnoses are useless. It’s very helpful for professionals. What I mean when I say “diagnosis isn’t important” - is that taking action to start therapy is what’s most important.  See a professional who you trust!

If you are reading this, it’s because you’ve been searching for it. Leave it to the professionals, I know it’s difficult to come to terms with it. But focus on what you can do right now! If it helps, use the “I’ll prove them wrong” mentality to help push you and your child to make consistent 

What is speech and language delay and ASD

In extremely general terms, speech and language delayed children cannot communicate well, but usually are communicative. Whereas ASD children aren’t that interested in communicating, that’s why they aren’t good at it.

Can it happen together? Yes, a child can be speech and language delayed and also be on the spectrum.

Does Speech delay equal Autism?
NO! There are pure “speech delay” cases, with nothing to do with ASD. Most of the time, there really isn’t a cause we can point to about why a child has a delay in the use of speech and language for communication. But when a child is on the Autism spectrum, it usually does come with a language disorder. These children are at a higher risk of having a problem with communicating.

Why having a diagnosis doesn’t matter...
Unless you need the diagnosis for getting into a school, getting therapy services, or getting extra support, then I would urge you to not obsess over the labels. And do what you can right now to participate in early intervention, the earlier you start, the better the results will be.

[demsonAckerman-ztzk]

I have a son who cant even say a single word aside from "ba" and used sign language everytime he wanted something. I accepted the fact that he was a special child. But he can hear and played with other kids. But when he was 5 years old already he began to speak and very fluent in all words. He is now 17 years old and a normal one. I thanked God for the miracle He gave me.

[angeebb]

My daughter didn't speak until she was almost 4. Now she's an English teacher.

[shelbytrotter]

I really needed to hear this: to stop focusing on the diagnosis and focus on getting my son on the right track. Thank you so much for this video.

[trinityb]

I thought my son had autism @3 I got him evaluated and put him in speech therapy he went a few times maybe 5..6 times and his vocabulary has grew tremendously ! All I did was sing nursery rhymes over nd over nd over and now he sings them and count down from 20 & he knows some fruit
I also bought him a iPad for his 3rd birthday (wish I would’ve brought it sooner ) & he can use the iPad all by his self I’m sooo proud of my son !

[nicoledefranco]

Oh my goddd, i’m crying my eyes out right now because this was everything I needed to hear! Thank you sooo much! I’ve been obsessing over every little thing my 2 year old does to the point where it’s taking time away from him. While i’m ashamed to admit that, i just want to thank you for this video. It really doesn’t matter right now. What matters is me doing everything I can to work with my baby as much as possible to help him be the best he can be.

Again, thank you.

[gracegraceful]

I think my daughter has both . I see it in her.
But my daughter was born at 7months and was in the hospital for 3 months.
She had bleeding in the brain 🧠 and she is but is ok and she’s for 4 now.

She’s visually impaired due to neglect from the eyes clinic and the eye gotten worse.

But I do see it in her and I’m working with her. I teach her words some she says some she mumbles, she plays, sings and loves music.

I’ll work with my child and don’t label her. I love my miracle.

Thank u lovely Sir

[renettegordley]

My son was diagnosed at 17 months. He would say "all gone" plain & clear but nothing else. The team came out & said he had a speech delay. I know he was behind because my other children were saying a lot more words at that age than he was. He went to early head start & had speech classes & he was exited out at the end of Kindergarten. His team did an amazing job.

[MarvinFontanilla]

Very helpful. My 2-year-old is a precocious reader and is speech/language delayed, but has no other autistic traits. But I do find myself obsessed with the "research".

[PaigeStephenson-yxkk]

I really appreciate you making these videos. It really helps parents more than you know.

[Lilm-dkbd]

My son is speech delayed. He is turning 3 next week. I just ahd him evaluated to start school to see what they were going to provide him with. A school psychologist evaluated him. I see that my son has a couple of quirks but im not sure its austism. He is very smart has said over 50 words he just doenst use them consistently to communicate. He knows his ABCs and can say them he has says some of his colors he knows them. He knows his shapes. He is very smart and had great problem solving skills great gross and fine motor skills. He is affectionate with close people and very playfull with everyone. Great eye contact. Doesnt seem to be obsessed with any one particular toy no steaming and no hitting himself or others. But i have failed at having him around other kids. He is the youngest kid in my family the next is his brother who is 13. I dont liek to go to the park or playground when is busy. So he has not been exposed to socializing with kids his age. He does smile or will babble to them from afar. He did play with his cousins when we went to north carolina when we went to visit. But i was honest with the psicholist that he doesnt socialize with other kids. So do to thag the psychologist said he qualifies for early school start base on him lack of "interest" in socializing as an austistic child. So know im i feel like thats not accurate bwcause i feel like if he was aroudnother kids he will plag with them. He is still speech delay but every week his vocabulary expands and i see him trying more.

[Tibet-joyd]

If there is something that can be fixed then there is no need to worry and if there is something that we can’t fix then there is no use of worry so keep calm and everything will be ok

[angeliquemaylani]

I had a very emotional moment after hearing this video. I needed to hear this! Thank you very much! Your videos are clear & informative!

[Tibet-joyd]

I have a 4 year old boy and he started talking a months ago and now he doing what every other child’s are doing….at 3 doctor to told me that he has problem and said must do that must do that Blabla……then I thought and I felt that no body knows my child better then me and I was right

[rebeccacaribe]

The best explanation and instruction for parents that I have heard in the last 4 years!! That is definitely the way that a profissional can make a difference in children’s lives! Thankful

[michaeldavion]

My son is 22months and i have always notice differences between him and other kids he started walking at 14month and it took me awhile for him to say mama he only say like 4words he walks on his toes and love to spin but he understands everything i say and he get super excited when he hears a plane pass he would look outside and trace the plane with his eyes he picks between water and juice but he doesn't look people in the eyes only me he will look eye to eyes he's even says a and b from the alphabet ... this video educated me alot to visit a specialist in person thank you

[bereniceadibi]

Thank you. Action is more important than thinking about the issue. This video was very encouraging. Thank you for taking time to reiterate to start working more on whatever issue you think you’re seeing.

[LindsayS_TX]

My almost 4 year old son has autism. He was also speech delayed, but we held off on therapy initially as we wanted to see how his speech was impacted by ABA (which he started just after turning 2). After around a year of ABA, we decided to add speech therapy. He has been doing speech for about 2 months (ABA for just over a year) and is graduating from both therapies in a couple weeks 🥲

[AdrianaMartinez-kpyh]

Thanks! This is exactly what I needed to hear. I know my son has a speech and language delay. I don’t feel he is on the spectrum because everything else is on point and he wants to communicate. I do want to hear all of the things you mentioned with the exception of not wanting to have to do anything. I wish I knew what I could do at home with him to get him to speak. He just started Speech Therapy this month but it’s only 1 hour a week.

[africanqueen]

My uncle couldn't speak till he was 6 my grandmother said but he turned out fine and normal

[firsttakeflow]

My son is 22 months and he communicates with me through his gestures. He pulls at me when he wants get picked up. I can tell him to get certain toys in the room and he'll go get them so we can play together, but he doesn't say words. He babbles certain words and letters but he only really make out to say the word "yeah" we try to set mildstones physical mildstones for him and he always reaches it, but we cant seem to get him to talk. Its really nerve racking. This is my 1st child. So im new to all this and i really cant tell the difference