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Autism/my child has a lip movement but no speech sometimes .

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Expert: - 5/5/2010


Question
hi I have a three year old son he has been dignosed with ASD mild to moderate.. he can speak around 15 to 20 meaningfull words most of them are not very clear except mama , papa , bus,car,no but in last two months I have notices a silent lip movement in him earlier it use to happen infront of unknown people but now he does that even infront of me and some times even for the words  he knows . please can tell me what is it . is it a sign of him getting nonverbal.

Answer
Hi Neha

I wouldn't read into the lip movement. He may have some selective mutism which causes him to just move his lips instead of allowing the sound to come out with the words. But to be honest, a child who is 3 years old with only 20 meaningful words that arent' clear is essentially low verbal anyway. I would be focusing my attention on trying to develop meaningful communication through other means like sign language or PECS or electronic. Have you done this?

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Valerie Herskowitz

Expertise

I am an autism expert and speech pathologist (for over 30 years). I am also the parent of a child with autism. I can answer any question on autism dealing with communication, education, behavior and diet. I cannot answer questions that are medical in nature or are dealing with medications.

Experience

I have run a therapy center for individuals with autism since 1981. I lecture all over the country. I also teach classes on autism on line.

Organizations
Vice President of Communications Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Member American Speech and Hearing Association, MembernAutism Society of America, President of the National Autism Registry, Vice President of the Association for Developmentally Disabled Adults and Adolescents.

Publications
Autism Society of America's national publication (September 2008). Advance Magazine, South Florida Parenting, Spectrum Magazine, I am the author of: Autism and Computers: Maximizing Independence Through Technology (available:www.valerieherskowitz.com)

Education/Credentials
I have a masters degree in speech pathology

Awards and Honors
I won a Stevie Award in 2004: Lifetime Achievement Award for my work with individuals with autism. My therapy center won, Judge's Choice Award Best Center in South Florida by South Florida Parenting magazine 2005.

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