nonsensical responses | Autism PDD

My dd's speech has come really far in the past few months with ST and my work with her at home, school, etc. If I just compare her to herself, she's made HUGE progress in just talking more in general,  answering and asking questions, responding yes or no, etc. even if they are just one word or rote responses. She's come a long way away from the days when all she could do was echo. BUT if I compare her to other 3 1/2 year olds (which I know I shouldn't  but I couldn't help it this weekend at a birthday party for a 3 year old), she is woefully behind of course.

My question is about her nonsensical/rote responses. If we're doing something routine or watching a video together, she'll always say the same thing at the same time. And always something simplisitic like "Mommy is a girl" (although I realize that being verbal at all is a great thing that I don't take for granted!!). I try to expand on it and maybe something will get in there, but then THAT becomes the rote response. Or like today I was reading to her and she said "DD isn't here today" (she calls herself by her first name, not I). It had NO RELATION WHATSOEVER on what we were reading and is actually from a song she sings at school. These types of things happen ALL THE TIME. So, sometimes I think wow she's come so far and other times I think she's just memorizing responses and sayings, and saying them at random!!

I'm just wondering if this is a fairly typical thing? I hear my dd say the same thing every day, I could almost do it by rote myself it's so predictable. At breakfast, she'll say this. At bedtime, that. They might seem impressive if you don't hear them everyday all the time. But she didn't use to say ANYTHING or respond at all, so is this progress??? There is definitely more "spontaneous" speech than before but it is of this type of nature "Mommy is a girl".

If she is emerging from echoing into this sort of rote responding/sorta spontaneous speech does that mean she might go on to hold conversations or could she still get stuck at any stage along the way (never progressing much beyond "mommy is a girl" comments" oh, and sometimes she'll say "mommy is a boy" btw

I think from what you have described she seems to be doing great!!  When I have days like yours where I question whether Adam will get any better at this...I remind myself that he didn't even say MOMMY until he was almost 3.  I think our children may not learn the same way or develop the same way as NT children but in my opinion if they are making progress then anything is possible.  It is frustrating that Adam can not tell me what happened when he gets hurt but I have been working on that one with him and the other day he came to me and said, "i broke my foot".  He had stubbed his foot on the wall and I actually seen him do it and afterward he said that to me.  I couldn't believe it!!!  No his foot wasn't broke..LOL but he tried his best to communicate what happened.  Now he doesn't always have an ON day like this either though.  I hold on to the times that he DOES use spontanious appropriate speech because that makes me realize that he can be taught to use it.  It's hit and miss right now .....but the hits are so wonderful!!  I think your right when you talk about rote responses but you know what?  If that is how they end up learning everything they need to learn in language.....and eventually you can't notice that its the way they learned it...then that is not a big deal to me.  I think by what you have described though that your dd is doing so great!!  I give you big kudos for working so hard with her!!

Karrie 

Thanks Karrie, for the encouraging words. I have been thinking a lot about what you said - and you're right, progress is progress! I need to just stay focused on that. She really has made incredible strides in language and that's such a blessing!Hi Sally!
I know the progress seems slow but she is coming along!    When she makes the comment  "mommy is a  girl"   engage her in that  as a conversation.    tell her  DD is a girl,  like mom.     She is probing for understanding by repeating the same phrases.    She may not  understand  other  responses  and prefers the ones she  knows.

Our son did a lot of the same things.   Our ST worked with him on receptive and expressive language skills and  understanding concepts.    As  your DD progresses with her receptive language skills you will notice her becoming more responsive and more in tune to what is going on around her and to what others are saying.
Hang in there!   I know sometimes it can get tiresome hearing the same thing over and over, but it will get better!!     My son talks so much now.....I'm the one who is tuning out!!

best wishes,    bonnie

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