There are multiple factors which differentiate speech difficulties due to Autism Spectrum Disorder from speech difficulties due to trauma, child being in non-stimulatory environment or excessive exposure to screentime.
The features mentioned below are for early diagnosis only. In due course of development, the features may change or variate depending on child’s condition.
The prognosis may depend on co morbidities, motivation and intensity of stimulations
| Feature | Speech Impairment in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) | Speech Impairment in Simple Speech Delay (Delayed Milestones) |
| Eye contact | Poor or limited | Good and consistent |
| Social interaction | Limited interest in people | Actively interested in people |
| Use of gestures (pointing, waving, nodding) | Rare or absent | Present and appropriate |
| Joint attention (looking where others point) | Poor or absent | Present |
| Intent to communicate | Low or unusual | Good desire to communicate |
| Speech development pattern | May be absent, very delayed, or unusual | Delayed but follows a typical pattern |
| Echolalia (repeating words/phrases) | Common | Rare |
| Speech tone and rhythm | Often unusual (robotic, singsong, flat) | Usually normal |
| Understanding of language | Often impaired | Usually better than expressive speech |
| Play skills | Repetitive, limited imaginative play | Age-appropriate pretend play |
| Imitation skills | Poor | Good |
| Response to name | Often inconsistent | Usually, consistent |
| Emotional sharing | Limited | Warm and connected |
