Autism and communication: speaking vs. connecting

It helps to separate two ideas. Speaking is conveying thoughts and feelings in words. Communicating is broader — it is the intention to share a message and the readiness of another person to receive it. A baby begins communicating with the world from very early on, long before any words appear.

How we look at a child's communication

Every child develops communication skills in their own developmental stage. In early childhood we look for foundational skills: shared attention, sharing and responding to emotion, smiling, and creating signals through body language, gestures, facial expressions, and sounds. As a child grows, these become more complex and lead to richer social skills.

In children with autism spectrum profiles, we often see differences in non-verbal communication, in forming the intention to communicate, in reading others' intentions, in using and interpreting gestures and facial expressions, and in sharing emotion.

How communication can be supported

The first goal is not to push a child to communicate, but to encourage connection and increase engagement. Observing what helps a child feel calm, happy, and comfortable — their interests, the textures, sights and sounds they enjoy — gives a starting point. Matching a child's pace and rhythm during play, making different sounds, and reflecting the emotions they experience all strengthen the bond.