Hidden Language

What if the way we’ve been measuring communication in non-speaking autistic individuals has been missing something vital? For decades, speech therapy has focused on verbal output—but up to one third of people with autism remain minimally or non-speaking, despite years of intervention. This can be discouraging for families and therapists alike. But new research is challenging old assumptions in a powerful way: it suggests that many non-speaking individuals may understand and process language far more effectively than we realized. And that opens new doors for connection, communication, and hope.

Rethinking Communication in Autism

As autism diagnoses grow in all technologically advanced countries worldwide, it’s becoming more and more imperative that we learn how to treat autistic children and adults more holistically and help them thrive. The good news is that research is showing evidence that for many autistic individuals, even though they may not be able to effectively use speech to communicate, their linguistic skills are far more advanced than previously suspected. The great news is that with this cutting edge insight on how non-verbal, autistic people see language, the chances of developing better linguistic therapies with the written word are getting better and better.

Syntax Studies and Surprising Results

When speech doesn't come, written language may still open the door.

Because of their behavioral patterns and speech difficulties, it has long been thought that non-verbal children and adults are limited in their literacy skills. In a 2022 study, the National Autistic Society gathered non-speaking autistic adults and children from three different communities to study how effectively they could identify the correct options of written language when asked a series of questions. During the trial, participants independently used an iPad to play “games” that required them to identify correct words or sentences in response to questions. Researchers measured how quickly each participant selected the correct answer. The results were striking. Participants chose correct sentences versus nonsensical phrases, could identify actual letters in a group of symbols, and they even worked with relative speed.

The Crucial Distinction Between Language & Speech

The confusion of measuring speech versus language is a frequent challenge, and one that this study set out to rectify. While the trial participants were indeed unable to communicate verbally, even after up to 15 years of speech therapy for some, their mental capability for language was far underestimated. Knowing this information can push the boundaries of current communication therapies!

More Clues For Better Connection

This study offers a profound shift in how we should all think about language and communication in autism. It shows that for many non-speaking individuals, the challenge isn't a lack of understanding—it's a gap in expressive tools. When given access to written language and visual supports, their abilities come into clearer view. For friends and family of autistic individuals, this is more than research—it’s a reminder to keep seeking creative, personalized ways to connect. Our loved ones may have more to say than we ever imagined! And now, we have better clues for how to help them say it.

Verified Reliable Sources for the Content in This Article:
Literacy In Nonspeaking Autistic People via Autism by Jaswal, V. K., Lampi, A. J., & Stockwell, K. M, Published 2024

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