Delay in Learning to Speak
Speech delays are common sign in children suffering from autism. It is important to differentiate this speech delay from other speech pathologies. Brain activity was assessed in children with autism and language delay show dampened brain activity in two language centers. This feature was absent in healthy children or those suffering from other speech issues. Children with autism are more prone to fail to develop non-verbal gestures such as pointing toward anything. They almost always babble in the first year of life but stop after a while. They tend to repeat words or phrases that they hear. A key feature that can be very characteristic for autistic children is their use of odd words that are completely out of place and meaningless.