For autistic children, “nonverbal” simply means spoken language isn’t their main or reliable form of communication and sometimes it comes and goes. Nonverbal autism doesn’t mean “no words.” It means speech may not be consistent, clear, or accessible in the way people expect. My daughter has experienced communication regression and progress many times. A few months ago, she wasn’t using spoken words at all and relied fully on gestures, grunts, hand-leading, picture cards, her AAC device, and sign