My son has autism. When will his speech improve?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 2.8-year-old son was recently diagnosed with ASD. As he was having a speech delay and was not saying simple words like "mama" and "papa," we went for a checkup. Can you please tell me if there is any average time frame for my son to recover? I wanted to know if my son could be rated on a scale based on the symptoms he is showing. How long will it take to rectify? How soon will he be able to talk? Can you guide me on how to proceed and the treatment plan?

Kindly advise.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern and would be happy to help.

The average timeframe for recovery depends on the results and regularity of occupational and speech therapy being given to the child. Most children begin to show improvement within one to two years of starting therapy. The child has already been rated by the CARS (Childhood autism rating scale) score for autism. His score is 34, which translates as a moderate level of autism.

The plan of treatment is occupational therapy with speech therapy. Many autistic children have improved to a great extent and are doing well. If you stay positive and focus on occupational and speech therapy, you will slowly start to see improvements. Medical therapy in the form of oral medications is rarely required.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.