Where do I start with a nonverbal child?

Start with a few of the most important cards tied to the child's needs: eat, drink, more, finished, tired. Use them every day in the same situations.

Nonverbal child: how to help them communicate

Q: What is AAC or alternative communication?

AAC is a set of ways to communicate without speech or alongside it: picture cards, symbols, gestures or apps that say the chosen word out loud.

Q: Will a nonverbal child ever talk?

Some children start talking later, while others communicate in other ways throughout life. AAC doesn't hinder speech and often encourages it, so it's worth starting early.

Nonverbal doesn't mean a child has nothing to say. They simply need another way while speech is still forming. When we give them that way, frustration drops, there are fewer meltdowns, and the connection grows.

Who this is for

These steps aren't only for a fully nonverbal child. They also help when speech is simply late: a child who started talking later, uses only a few words, or understands far more than they can say. Pictures with sound give a voice right now, while real speech keeps developing, and often encourage it.

What AAC is

AAC, or augmentative and alternative communication, includes all ways of communicating without speech or alongside it:

picture cards and symbols;
gestures and body language;
apps that speak the chosen word out loud;
photos of familiar objects and people.

The goal is simple: the child can show or say what they want, how they feel and what is going on.

The myth that holds parents back

Many parents fear that pictures will stop speech. Research shows the opposite: AAC doesn't suppress speech and often encourages it, because the child sees that communication works and wants to communicate even more. That's why it's worth starting AAC early, rather than waiting for the child to talk on their own.

Where to start

Choose a few of the most important cards. Start with what the child needs every day: eat, drink, more, finished, tired, outside.
Use them in the same situations. Before a meal, show "eat." During play, offer "more." Consistency helps them learn.
Model it yourself. Press the card together with your child and say the word. The child learns by watching you.
Respect every choice. When the child shows "more," give more right away. That's how they understand that communication has power.
Expand gradually. Add new cards once you see the first ones are already being used.

Timo has picture cards with a real voice, grouped by need, including emergency words. The child presses a card, Timo says it out loud, and the child is heard, even when the words aren't there yet.

Try Timo free for 30 days

Frequently asked questions

What is AAC?

Ways to communicate without speech or alongside it: picture cards, symbols, gestures or apps that say a word out loud.

Will a nonverbal child ever talk?

Some start talking later, while others communicate in other ways. AAC doesn't get in the way of speech and often encourages it, so it's worth starting early.

Where do I start?

With a few of the most important cards tied to the child's needs, used every day in the same situations.