Minimally Verbal

A term describing individuals who use very few or no spoken words as their primary means of communication, despite potentially having communicative intent. This term is commonly used in autism contexts to describe autistic individuals who may have fewer than 20-30 functional spoken words. Being minimally verbal does not indicate a lack of understanding or intelligence — many minimally verbal individuals comprehend language and can communicate effectively through alternative means such as AAC devices, picture exchange systems, sign language, or gestures. The shift from "non-verbal" to "minimally verbal" or "non-speaking" reflects growing recognition that most individuals have some vocal or verbal capacity.