Helping Nonverbal Children Find Their Voice

Table of Contents

1. Understanding Nonverbal and Nonspeaking Communication
2. Embracing Patience and Observation: Your Child’s First Language Teachers
3. Creating a Communication-Rich Environment
4. Leveraging Technology: Smart Screen Time with Speech Blubs
5. Practical Strategies for Encouraging Verbalization
6. Investing in Your Child’s Future with Speech Blubs
7. Conclusion
8. Frequently Asked Questions

Imagine a world where you couldn’t express your most basic needs, share your joy, or articulate your feelings. For many children and their families, this is a daily reality. The journey of raising a child who struggles with verbal communication can be filled with unique challenges, anxieties, and profound love. Perhaps your little one communicates through gestures, sounds, or by guiding your hand to what they want, leaving you wondering how to bridge the gap to spoken words. You’re not alone in seeking answers. It’s a common misconception that if a child isn’t speaking by a certain age, they never will. However, groundbreaking research has shown that non-speaking children, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), can and do develop language skills later in life, sometimes even into their teenage years. This blog post is dedicated to illuminating the path forward, offering practical, empathetic strategies and resources to help nonverbal children develop their communication abilities and, ultimately, find their unique voice. We’ll explore the nuances of nonverbal communication, discuss effective, play-based approaches, and introduce how tools like Speech Blubs can become a powerful ally in this transformative journey.

Understanding Nonverbal and Nonspeaking Communication

When we talk about children who don’t use spoken words, it’s important to understand what that truly means. The terms “nonverbal” and “nonspeaking” are often used interchangeably, but there’s a subtle yet significant distinction, especially within the autism community. “Nonspeaking” refers to individuals who do not use spoken language, including vocalizations or sounds with symbolic meaning. However, not speaking doesn’t mean an inability to communicate. As Dr. Meghan O’Neill, a neurodevelopmental disabilities physician, explains, communication is a much broader concept, representing the exchange of messages or information between two people. Many advocacy groups now prefer “nonspeaking” over “nonverbal” because the latter can mistakenly imply a reduced understanding of language or a general inability to communicate, which is often far from the truth.

Children who are nonspeaking might use a rich tapestry of other communication methods:

• Gestures: Pointing, nodding, shaking their head, reaching.
• Body Language: Leading an adult to an object, turning away from something they dislike.
• Facial Expressions: Smiles, frowns, wide eyes conveying surprise or fear.
• Sounds: Giggles, grunts, babbling, or specific vocalizations.
• Picture Exchange Systems (PECS): Using images to make requests or share thoughts.
• Eye Gaze: Looking at desired objects or people.

Recognizing and validating these forms of communication is the crucial first step. It helps build a foundation of understanding and trust, letting your child know that their attempts to connect are seen, heard, and valued. At Speech Blubs, we understand that every child’s communication journey is unique, and our approach is designed to meet children where they are, celebrating every step towards expressing their minds and hearts. You can learn more about our foundational science and how we empower children by visiting our research page.

Why Some Children Are Nonspeaking

The reasons a child may be nonspeaking are varied and complex. For many, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it stems from brain-based differences in understanding the social, back-and-forth nature of communication. Children with ASD may also find it challenging to understand symbols and what they represent, impacting language acquisition and symbolic play. It’s not about a lack of intelligence or a refusal to speak; rather, it’s about a different way their brain processes and produces language.

Other potential factors can include:

• Developmental delays: Global developmental delays can impact all areas of development, including speech.
• Apraxia of speech: A neurological condition affecting the brain’s ability to plan and coordinate the muscle movements needed for speech.
• Hearing impairment: Undetected hearing loss can significantly impede language development.
• Intellectual disability: Cognitive challenges can affect the ability to acquire and use language.
• Selective mutism: An anxiety disorder where a child is unable to speak in certain social situations.

Regardless of the underlying cause, the goal remains the same: to foster communication. This requires patience, keen observation, and a willingness to explore various strategies, from professional therapy to engaging home-based activities. If you’re unsure about your child’s communication development, taking a preliminary assessment can be a valuable first step. Our quick 3-minute screener involves just 9 simple questions and provides an assessment along with next-steps guidance.

Embracing Patience and Observation: Your Child’s First Language Teachers

One of the most powerful tools a parent has is their presence and attention. Learning to communicate with a nonspeaking child begins with understanding their unique communication style, which often means slowing down and observing.

Follow Your Child’s Lead

Children learn best when they are engaged and interested. Rather than directing playtime, join your child in whatever activity they choose. If they are pushing a toy car, get down on their level and push another car alongside them. If they are stacking blocks, stack yours too. This shared focus creates an opportunity for connection and communication. When your child is exploring the world in their own way, you can introduce simple words and gestures related to their current interest. For instance, if your child is stacking blocks, you might say “up,” “stack,” “tall,” or “down” as they perform the actions. This connects words directly to meaningful actions, making them more salient.

Imitate, Don’t Just Expect Imitation

Imitation is a two-way street. Start by imitating your child’s sounds, gestures, and actions. If they clap, you clap. If they make a “ba-ba” sound, you echo it back. This shows them that you are paying attention, understanding, and engaging with them. It builds a sense of shared understanding and encourages them to initiate more interactions. When children feel understood, they are more likely to try and communicate further. This foundational mirroring is also central to our methodology at Speech Blubs, where children learn by watching and imitating their peers through our unique video modeling approach. This leverages mirror neuron systems in the brain, making learning feel natural and intuitive.

Give Them Space and Time to Respond

It’s tempting to fill silences or anticipate your child’s needs. However, giving your child ample time to respond, even if it’s just a glance or a gesture, is crucial. After asking a question or making a comment, wait several seconds, maintaining an expectant, interested gaze. Avoid rushing in to complete their sentences or answer for them. This practice demonstrates that you believe in their ability to communicate and provides them with the opportunity to process and formulate a response, however small. If they do offer any form of communication, respond quickly and positively to reinforce their efforts.

Creating a Communication-Rich Environment

Beyond direct interaction, the environment you create plays a significant role in fostering communication.

Offer Choices to Empower Communication

Empowering your child to make choices is a fantastic way to encourage communication. Instead of simply handing them a snack, hold up two options and see which one they gravitate towards, point to, or make a sound for. For example, “Do you want apple or banana?” This makes communication functional and gives them control over their world. Visual supports, like pictures of choices, can be particularly helpful for nonspeaking children to make their preferences known.

Simple, Repetitive Games and Activities

Repetitive games provide predictable structures that can be comforting and conducive to learning. Games like “peek-a-boo,” rolling a ball back and forth, or building a block tower and knocking it down, offer repeated opportunities for interaction and communication. These simple interactions can be paired with simple words or gestures, such as “ball,” “go,” “my turn,” “your turn,” “up,” or “boom!”

Here are some play ideas that naturally encourage communication:

• Playing with Blocks: Helps develop fine motor skills and spatial reasoning, and offers chances to say words like “build,” “up,” “down,” “more.”
• Sand or Water Play: A sensory rich experience that encourages exploration and descriptive language (wet, dry, pour, dig).
• Music and Movement: Singing songs or dancing helps with rhythm and coordination, and provides an expressive outlet. Songs with actions like “Wheels on the Bus” or “If You’re Happy and You Know It” are excellent for pairing words with gestures.
• Reading Books Aloud: Even if your child isn’t following the story, pointing to pictures and labeling objects (“dog,” “car,” “baby”) can build vocabulary and attention skills. Choose books with bright pictures and simple, repetitive text.

For a parent whose 3-year-old ‘late talker’ loves animals but struggles to imitate sounds, the ‘Animal Kingdom’ section within Speech Blubs offers a fun, motivating way to practice ‘moo’ and ‘baa’ sounds. They watch other children make the sounds, then the app prompts them to try, making it a playful, imitative experience rather than a demanding task. This is just one example of how we transform screen time into a dynamic, “smart screen time” experience.

Leveraging Technology: Smart Screen Time with Speech Blubs

In today’s digital age, technology can be a powerful ally in supporting communication development. However, not all screen time is created equal. Passive viewing of cartoons, for instance, does little to stimulate interactive communication. This is where Speech Blubs shines, offering a unique “smart screen time” experience designed to be an active, engaging, and scientifically-backed learning tool.

Our Unique Video Modeling Methodology

At the heart of Speech Blubs is our innovative “video modeling” methodology. Children learn best by watching and imitating their peers. Unlike apps that feature adult therapists or animated characters, Speech Blubs presents real children in short video clips demonstrating sounds, words, and phrases. This approach naturally engages a child’s innate capacity for social learning, activating mirror neurons in the brain that are essential for imitation and language acquisition.

• How it Works: Your child watches a peer say a word like “car” or “hello,” then the app prompts them to try. They can see their own face on the screen, encouraging them to imitate.
• Engagement Through Play: Our app is packed with thousands of fun, interactive activities across various categories like “Amazing Animals,” “Yummy Time,” “Sing-Along,” and “Guess the Word.” These activities are designed to feel like play, fostering a love for communication without pressure.
• Beyond Words: Speech Blubs doesn’t just focus on single words. We also incorporate activities that encourage social referencing, emotional expression, and turn-taking – all critical foundational skills for complex communication.

Our Mission: Empowering Children to Speak Their Minds and Hearts

Speech Blubs was born from personal experience. Our founders all grew up with speech challenges and created the tool they wished they had—an immediate, effective, and joyful solution for the 1 in 4 children who need speech support. We are committed to empowering children to “speak their minds and hearts,” providing an active alternative to passive viewing. Our goal is not to replace professional therapy but to serve as a powerful supplement, creating consistent, engaging practice opportunities right at home. It’s also a tool for family connection, as we always encourage adult co-play and support to maximize the learning experience.

We believe every child deserves the chance to communicate, to build confidence, and to reduce the frustration that can come with communication barriers. With Speech Blubs, children are not just learning words; they are developing foundational skills, expressing themselves, and connecting with the world around them in joyful, meaningful ways. See how we’ve helped other families by reading our parent testimonials.

Practical Strategies for Encouraging Verbalization

While communication is broad, encouraging spoken words remains a key goal for many families. Here are strategies to integrate into your daily routine:

Use Simple, Concise Language

When speaking to your child, use single words or very short phrases initially. If your child is interested in a ball, simply say “ball” as you hand it to them. As they begin to understand and perhaps imitate single words, you can gradually expand to two-word phrases, like “roll ball” or “big ball.” This incremental approach makes language less overwhelming and more digestible.

Narrate Your Actions and Your Child’s Actions

Become a narrator of your shared experiences. “Mommy is cutting the apple.” “You are building a tall tower.” “The car is going fast!” This provides a constant stream of language connected to concrete objects and actions, helping your child build connections between words and the world.

Create “Communication Temptations”

Sometimes, a child needs a reason to communicate. You can strategically set up situations that encourage them to make a request or comment.

• Keep desired objects out of reach: Place a favorite toy on a shelf they can see but can’t reach, prompting them to point, gesture, or vocalize to ask for it.
• Offer incomplete items: Give them a bowl of cereal but no spoon, or a puzzle with a missing piece.
• Engage in silly mistakes: Pretend to put a hat on your foot instead of your head, prompting a correction or a laugh.

These moments, when managed with patience, create natural, low-pressure opportunities for your child to initiate communication.

Integrate Assistive and Augmentative Communication (AAC)

For some nonspeaking children, AAC devices are incredibly valuable. These can range from simple picture boards to high-tech speech-generating devices or apps on tablets. It’s crucial to understand that AAC is not a replacement for speech; it can actually support and facilitate verbal language development by reducing communication frustration and providing a means to express thoughts. Many children who use AAC later develop spoken words.

Speech Blubs acts as a complementary tool, enhancing a child’s overall communication repertoire. While not an AAC device itself, its interactive nature and focus on sound and word imitation provide invaluable practice that can be integrated into an AAC user’s daily routine, or serve as a stepping stone towards verbal expression for other children.

Consistency and Repetition

Learning language takes time, consistency, and a lot of repetition. Integrate communication-boosting activities into your daily routines. Make eye contact, use gestures, and narrate during meals, bath time, and playtime. The more consistently your child is exposed to and encouraged to use language in meaningful ways, the stronger their communication skills will become.

Investing in Your Child’s Future with Speech Blubs

We understand that you want the best for your child, and finding the right tools and resources can make all the difference. Speech Blubs is designed to be a supportive, engaging, and effective part of your child’s communication journey, blending scientific principles with joyful play.

When you choose Speech Blubs, you’re not just downloading an app; you’re gaining a partner dedicated to helping your child express themselves, build confidence, and connect with the world. We offer a 7-day free trial to explore everything we have to offer, but to get the most out of your experience, we highly recommend our Yearly plan.

Transparent Pricing and Unbeatable Value

We believe in making high-quality speech support accessible to families. Here’s how our pricing works:

• Monthly Plan: For just $14.99 per month, you get access to our core Speech Blubs app. This plan is flexible, but it doesn’t include some of our most valuable features.
• Yearly Plan: The Best Value! Our Yearly plan is priced at an incredible $59.99 per year. This breaks down to just $4.99 per month, allowing you to save 66% compared to the monthly option.

The Yearly plan is truly the superior choice, offering a comprehensive suite of features designed to maximize your child’s progress and your family’s experience:

• 7-Day Free Trial: Only with the Yearly plan do you get to explore the full Speech Blubs experience completely free for seven days before committing.
• Bonus Reading Blubs App: Exclusively included with the Yearly plan, Reading Blubs is an additional app designed to support early literacy skills, further enhancing your child’s developmental journey.
• Early Access to New Updates: Yearly subscribers get first access to all our new features and content.
• Priority Support: Enjoy a faster, 24-hour response time from our dedicated support team, ensuring you get help when you need it most.

We encourage you to choose the Yearly plan to unlock your free 7-day trial and access the full suite of features that will empower your child’s communication journey. It’s an investment in their future, providing consistent, joyful, and effective support right at your fingertips.

Ready to embark on this journey with us? Download Speech Blubs on the App Store or Google Play today and choose the Yearly plan to get started with your free trial!

Conclusion

The journey of helping a nonverbal child communicate is a marathon, not a sprint, filled with small victories and significant milestones. It requires patience, keen observation, a nurturing environment, and a commitment to celebrating every attempt at communication. Remember, the goal is not just about speaking words, but about empowering your child to express their unique personality, needs, and desires, reducing frustration, and fostering a deep love for connection.

By understanding the nuances of nonverbal communication, consistently applying engaging, play-based strategies, and leveraging innovative tools like Speech Blubs, you are providing your child with the best possible foundation for language development. Our unique video modeling, combined with a supportive family environment, transforms screen time into “smart screen time,” making learning enjoyable and effective. We are here to support the 1 in 4 children who need speech support, providing a powerful tool born from personal experience and scientific principles.

Take the first step towards unlocking your child’s potential. We invite you to experience the transformative power of Speech Blubs by starting your 7-day free trial today. Simply create your account on our website or download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Remember to choose the Yearly plan to gain access to the free trial, the bonus Reading Blubs app, and exclusive features that offer the best value for your child’s communication journey. We’re excited to be a part of your family’s story, helping your child speak their minds and hearts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is it truly possible for a nonverbal child to learn to speak?

A1: Yes, absolutely! While it was once a common belief that children who remained nonverbal after a certain age might never speak, more recent research has provided significant hope. A 2013 study, for example, revealed that many non-speaking children, including those with ASD, can indeed develop spoken language later in life, sometimes even achieving surprising fluency into their teenage years. With early intervention, consistent support, and the right strategies, many children make incredible progress in verbal communication.

Q2: What’s the difference between “nonverbal” and “nonspeaking” when discussing children’s communication?

A2: While often used interchangeably, “nonspeaking” is generally preferred by many in the autism community. “Nonspeaking” specifically refers to an individual who does not use spoken language. “Nonverbal,” on the other hand, can sometimes be misinterpreted to mean an inability to communicate at all or a reduced understanding of language. However, as experts like Dr. Meghan O’Neill point out, communication is much broader than just speech. Nonspeaking children often communicate effectively through gestures, body language, facial expressions, sounds, or assistive devices. It’s crucial to acknowledge and validate all forms of communication.

Q3: How does Speech Blubs specifically help nonverbal children or those with limited speech?

A3: Speech Blubs leverages a unique “video modeling” methodology where children learn by watching and imitating their peers. This approach is highly engaging and scientifically backed, activating mirror neurons essential for imitation and language acquisition. For nonverbal children, this means a low-pressure, playful way to be exposed to and practice sounds and words. Our interactive activities, real-child videos, and focus on imitation provide a structured yet fun environment that can help children develop early vocalizations, expand their vocabulary, and improve articulation, making it an excellent supplement to professional therapy and home-based strategies.

Q4: When should I seek professional help for my child’s speech and language development?

A4: Early intervention is key. If you have any concerns about your child’s communication development, it’s always best to consult with your pediatrician. They can refer you to a speech-language pathologist for a comprehensive evaluation. General guidelines suggest seeking professional advice if your child:

• Doesn’t babble or make sounds by 12 months.
• Doesn’t respond to their name by 12 months.
• Doesn’t use gestures (like pointing or waving) by 12 months.
• Doesn’t say single words by 18 months.
• Doesn’t use two-word phrases by 2 years.
• Has difficulty understanding simple instructions.
• Loses any speech or language skills they once had. Remember, you know your child best. If you feel something isn’t quite right, trust your instincts and seek professional guidance. You can also take our quick 3-minute preliminary screener for an initial assessment and suggested next steps.