Moms of ASD children w/speech delays

andreas4dogs · April 2010

So Gabe is significantly expressively delayed. I pretty much stopped trying to figure out exactly how behind he was, because it wasn't beneficial.

Anyhow, Gabe 'tries' to talk but it just doesn't come out right (might be the speech apraxia as well). He has a hell of a time trying to say simple words...but anytime the microwave, oven, or car makes a noise, he mimics that noise to a tee. Also, when I am verbally correcting the dogs, i.e. 'eheh' he copies that exactly.

Any ideas on why this is???

mommyof4boys · April 2010

That would be the ASD coming out. When I taught it kids on the spectrum they would do similar things. Chris imitates the trains outside, car horns, etc.

susanmosley · April 2010

The coordination for speech sounds/combinations is more complex than a single sound or open sound or vowel sound that he probably uses for "environmental" noises. Imitating those sounds requires imitating pitch and intonation instead of a sequence of more complex sounds - it is a simpler task, motorically speaking. It is probably only one sound at a time that he imitates ("eeeeee" or something, for the beep of the microwave), so he doesn't have to move his articulators in a coordinated and well planned manner from one phoneme/place to another while coordinating breath support.

The fact that he imitates sounds though is great. Something to build on.

ETA: also, imitating words requires some language skills but imitating a sound isn't language based. So for a kiddo with a language delay/disorder, the sound imitation is easier as it doesn't have to access the part of the brain that has deficits/weaknesses

andreas4dogs · May 2010

LOL Auntie, I really enjoyed reading that! I appreciate all the responses. Glad others can relate.

joeandmarsha · May 2010

I was reading your msg, and though I am by no means am I an expert on many things, I have worked and continue to work with children and adults who are Deaf and or Deaf & Blind. mimicing sounds eeeeeee, ooooooo is huge I know that I use sign language with the sounds ie; mmmmmmm with the sign for milk (looks like squeezing a cows udder) maybe his verbal expression isn't there but maybe trough the use of signing it could get there. I can see your very determined and are sad that he is having a hard time. If you decide to try a sign or two, I would love to hear how Gabe does!

andreas4dogs · May 2010

joeandmarsha:
I was reading your msg, and though I am by no means am I an expert on many things, I have worked and continue to work with children and adults who are Deaf and or Deaf & Blind. mimicing sounds eeeeeee, ooooooo is huge I know that I use sign language with the sounds ie; mmmmmmm with the sign for milk (looks like squeezing a cows udder) maybe his verbal expression isn't there but maybe trough the use of signing it could get there. I can see your very determined and are sad that he is having a hard time. If you decide to try a sign or two, I would love to hear how Gabe does!

Signing is quite useful. We have been working on signing for almost two years now (it took him quite a few months to get it). His teachers also showed him how to sign 'stop' when another kid was invading his space. This way he could 'defend' himself without talking. Of course they are super diligent but they are equipping him with the tools to be more independent, and I try to do the same. He mainly signs if he wants to eat or drink, but that is still significant to me!

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