Why is autism included in a discussion of speech disorders?
Communication disorders including absent or impaired speech and language are a hallmark of autism. With the tools, resources and delivery systems in general use today, it is expected that no more than half of autistic children will ever acquire speech. In addition, most language-disordered children, no matter their medical diagnoses, share many features with people who are autistic. These include delayed social/relational development, disturbances of the sensory system, motor planning difficulties and behavioral issues.