Mom Told Autistic Daughter May Never Talk, Unprepared for What Happens Next
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A mom who was told her autistic non-verbal daughter may never talk, could not believe what she captured one rainy Saturday afternoon.
Samantha Start (@samninawolf), 30, posted a reel on Instagram sharing a moment she never thought would come: her daughter Nina's first words.
In the clip, her 6-year-old can be heard finally saying phrases like "all gone" and "oh dear", followed by counting along with her mom using a colorful number chart—a huge milestone for the family.
Nina, 6, pictured wearing pink children's romper with green dinosaurs on.
Nina, 6, pictured wearing pink children's romper with green dinosaurs on.
@samninawolf
"I'll forever remember the date she spoke words to me because that was a date we never thought would come," the mom of two told Newsweek.
Samantha, who is also mom to son Wolf with husband Robert, 34, explained that her daughter was diagnosed with autism when she was just two years old.
"It's difficult...to try and understand what she wants, but we communicate in different ways and have learnt to understand Nina's needs," she told Newsweek.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects individuals in a variety of ways, including how they communicate, behave and interact with others.
While some children with autism develop language typically, others remain non-verbal or minimally verbal.
It's estimated that around 25 to 30 percent of individuals with autism are non-verbal or have very limited verbal abilities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"We haven't vocally communicated in the whole six years she has been alive, so we don't know any different," Samantha added.
After six years of silence, Nina's first words were a real breakthrough.
"I was so shocked [at] how clear her speech was and just so happy to finally hear her speak," Samantha said. "I've waited six years for this day."
Nina's first words had been watched over 376,000 times and received over 11,000 likes online at the time of writing.
Hundreds commented on the clip, with many parents saying it's given them hope.
"Oh my gosh, I dream of this day! How incredibly special," one user wrote.
"Music to your ears! Her sweet little voice finding its way to you," another added.
A third user commented, "This is so so amazing! Gives me so much hope for my autistic son."
While Samantha was elated, the moment meant even more to Nina's younger brother. "It means so much to us as a family but especially her little brother who has longed for her to speak to him," she said. "He was so happy."
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