Child Mind Institute Shares Resources on Nonverbal or Minimally Verbal Children
The Child Mind Institute has released a series of resources on the complexities of diagnosis regarding nonverbal and minimally verbal children.
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Caregivers are likely concerned when a child doesn’t speak or uses fewer words than is typical for their age and might wonder if a child will start speaking on their own - or if they require support.
Delayed speech, the Child Mind Institute writes, can be a sign of autism, spectrum disorder, intellectual developmental disorder, or speech sound disorder. Visiting a diagnostician might be in order to determine what’s going on.
The Child Mind Institute’s resources discuss the complexities of diagnosis, such as how to assess nonverbal or minimally verbal children.
It can be challenging - but not impossible - for a clinician to assess them accurately if the child can’t speak to respond to questions. Among the resources are tips on what to look for in a diagnosis as well as what an evaluation for autism should include.
There is also advice on why certain symptoms can lead to misdiagnosis and how to work with a clinician to get the correct one.
Below are the Child Mind Institute’s resources on the subject: