“Alec Speaks” A Guest Post By Julianna Gil de Lamadrid
Alec Speaks…
Autism as some of us know, is a far complex disorder that continues to baffle doctors, scientists, and researchers till this day. For the most part, we (the autism community) have acknowledged a basic set of traits found in autism that we can associate with deficits in neurological response, sensory processing, and communication. Because ineffective communication plays such a big role, it becomes more difficult to pinpoint what triggers or settles certain behaviors.
The term “non-verbal” is often associated with the word “can’t”. “Your child can’t speak.” “Your child can’t communicate appropriately with peers.”
My son Alec is one of 3 siblings on the autism spectrum. He is non-verbal. Alec doesn’t speak. Alec doesn’t communicate appropriately with peers. Alec was diagnosed with autism as early as 12 months of age. He developed slowly, in the midst of immeasurable frustration, due to his inability to make his needs known. He was encouraged by several of his therapists to incorporate sign language and the use of pictures to relay his thoughts and requests. Alec was unable to adapt to either concept.
Alec was a little over 2 when he was caught independently typing words in the search bar of his father’s iPod. This boy, who continued to work on identifying letters of the alphabet during ABA sessions was independently and accurately, reading and typing words far beyond his age expectancy. The truth is Alec, like many children on the spectrum, chose not to respond to work that minimized his capability. Is it possible that the concept of speech minimizes what autistic children are truly capable of as well?
By age 3, Alec was independently browsing the internet for language tutorials. Alec’s first spoken sentence was in Italian, a language not spoken by anyone in our family. As suddenly as we were blessed with the sound of his voice, the language ceased permanently. It was then that I learned how far ahead of the game Alec truly was. Alphabet and number flash cards, pictures of clothing items and activities, all became obsolete. Alec could read, Alec could spell, Alec could type, Alec could speak!
By age 5, Alec discovered a passion for music; namely, The Beatles. I, like many others, was unaware that the part of the human brain that processes speech is entirely separate from that which processes musical lyrics. Because of this, and Alec’s obsession with every Beatles song, I am able to hear my son’s beautiful voice through lyrics every day.
Although Alec doesn’t speak to me directly, or call me “mom”, I know am one of the lucky ones. Not every ASD parent gets that chance to hear their child’s voice. Hope is knowing one can, rather than can’t. My understanding of Alec’s knowledge can no longer be put into words. When I hear my non-verbal son sing every word to The Beatles, Let it Be, I am the one left speechless.
Julianna Gil de Lamadrid