Non Verbal and hums songs~ | Autism PDD

Well, when it comes to words with my son he only talks as a last resort. I will hum a song to him such as Barney and when I stop in the middle he finshes in his singing is babling but it is kind of cute. . . .I've notice that lately. . .he really likes music and picks up following a new song really quickly. . . .

but yet for the most part beside babling no, yes and mom and humming he does not talk much. . . .Its the cutest thing. . . .maybe he's the next mozart but its the wierdest thing. . . .

Stephanie and 3 year old in the process of being diagnosed

Many children on the spectrum enjoy music very much. I'm almost finished with the book "More than Words" and it says that a good way to teach your child routines and new words is to sing songs to/with your child. Luke is also nonverbal, but he hums the Barney "Clean Up" song (just wish he'd actually CLEAN UP when he does it!

) and the tune to "Frere Jacques." He really enjoys playing the piano (well, playing AT the piano ... nothing remotely Mozart-ish yet!) and listening to me sing. When my youngest was still non verbal his favorite song was, We will rock you, by Queen" That is the closest thing to a first word, untill John was 6 years old. With the help of early intervention he said mom at age 8. Now we can not stop him from saying everything. He sings in the church choir and he has an angels voice. He has found a sence of humor along the way and uses it along with his good looks when he visits the farms in our area to talk.

My mom bought the babybumblebee vocabulary builders volume 1 - 5 for Noah. At first we thought he wasn't interested in them because they didn't seem exciting enough for him like his favorite Happy Healthy Monsters video, but much to my surprise he started asking to watch them. It was hard for me to understand what he was asking for at first because he pulled me to the TV and said something with a bunch of B's, but after I finally made the connection I put in one of the videos and he got so excited. I stood at the TV with him (which I think he really liked) and whenever he said one of the words being taught I clapped and jumped with him and said "good job!" then he would smile like he was proud of himself. I found the interaction I was making with him was meaningful. And each time he repeated the words they became clearer and clearer. He isn't speaking sentences yet but I'm sure that is only a matter of time. To make a long story short, the bumblebee videos really do work and you can get them fairly cheap on ebay. We are going to get the "action words" series next.

I've also read that echolalia helps with speech and I'm finding that it's true. There are some phrases that Noah has picked up from my husband and I and also from his videos that he would repeat over and over and it was driving us crazy. But now we are finding that he is using these phrases at the appropriate opportunities. For example, Noah learned "mommy, where are you?" from Caillou, and while my mom was playing with him at the playground one day, I sat a little ways away in the shade (I was 9 months pregnant) and I saw Noah was looking for me and couldn't see me, and I heard him yelling "mommy, where are you?".

Noah loves music so much. He can learn a song after only hearing it once or twice and he can clap to the beat perfectly. When he gets a little older and can communicate better I'm thinking about enrolling him in piano lessons or lessons with some other type of musical instrument, whatever suits him best.

If I've used any wrong terminology in this post it's because I'm still very new to this and still learning about ASD. And I talked so much of Noah because I know others like to read what's going on with the other children on the spectrum. I pray for Noah often and remain hopeful that my DS will continue to make progress everyday. He is a trooper and I'm very proud of him.

My son Patrick is not very verbal, only those things that interests him, but when it comes to music,he could play any song he knows in his keyboard! Hope he can be a good pianist one day.

hi everyone,

I too have been doing alot of reach through reading books talking to thearapist, and parents. Anyway daren(3yrs) also would communicate though music wheater it is singing or playing an instrumment, it seem to be the only thing i was sure he loves and can do to perfection. however I now know it is normal for many kids on the spectrum to communicate this way and they all seem so talented with it. I guess we now have to find a way for them to use this talent,it confused me alot to see he could sing or hum but not talk.when the time is right or if I could find someone with enough patiece to teach him to play something i will do so.

Those bumble Bee videos are excellent i strongly recomment it to anyone who has not gotten it yet, at 1st it may seem like a waste or like the child is not interested but before u know they are repeating those simple words and that feels great. Daren knows and can identify lots of stuff from there , he not making sentences yet tough i think the need to make some that will help incourage them to make sentences though. for now at least it is a start to hear him verbalize. Those of u debating it I assure u wont regret it.

sonia

my son who has just started to become verbal use to sing before he had anywords, he'd mimic what the words in the song sounded like and he loved and still loves music and dancing and playing instruments. He has a lot of talent and we are going to try to encourage him and hopefully can find a school that teaches children like him or is understanding of him...he is also a really good dancer, has awesome rhythm and we dance together all the time. Its so funny!

We also used music to get him through some pretty grueling tests (VCUG's) and surgeries and recoveries (he had urinary reflux) and we were in the recovery room w/ one of the nurses after his last 5 hour surgery and he was on morphin and just out cold, then he woke up and looked around and sang out, "Eee-I-Eee-I-OOOOOOO!" and feel back down to sleep again...we were half in shock and the nurse thought how sweet, but it broke my heart because O' MacDonald was one of the many tunes I'd sing to him while he'd be going through some really unpleasant and scary stuff and I knew he was trying to comfort himself...he still sings out if he's aggrevated or frustrated and can't find the words to tell me...If I hear a couple of lines from O' MacDonald in an angry loud voice, I know something is up! LOL

Keep up the music and singing, I feel it has really helped my Nicholas find his voice and helped him become verbal, as well as it soothes him when he needs an outlet.

bless you all and your precious children!

Ali : )

My sons are non verbal my youngest one three is humming the songs too. He does a good job at it too !!My 8 yr. old hasn't said a word since asd took over still have hope though

My son likes Old Mcdonald (he does the E-I-E-I-O and it's pretty understandable) and he also will hum things from other shows here and there. His language is getting better now w/ the ST though. He is doing more spontaneous speech more than just repeating us! Hoping it will continue as he has regressed a little here and there.

Amber