{"h1":"Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation: ICD-11 Features in Early Childhood","faq":[{"a":"No. It is a descriptive functional profile that may accompany autism, developmental language disorder, intellectual developmental disorder, hearing loss or apraxia. The underlying cause must be assessed clinically.","q":"Is non-verbal / minimally verbal a diagnosis?"},{"a":"There is no standalone code; it is captured through autism spectrum disorder (6A02) severity qualifiers noting absence of functional language, developmental speech or language disorders (6A01), and the ICF functioning framework.","q":"How does ICD-11 represent it?"},{"a":"No. Evidence indicates augmentative and alternative communication supports — and does not suppress — spoken language development, and it should be introduced early.","q":"Does introducing AAC delay speech?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","title":"Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation","entity":{"key":"nonverbal","kind":"condition","name":"Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation","slug":"nonverbal-minimally-verbal"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Doctor","value":"doctor"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Communication","value":"communication"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Definition","value":"definition"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Special-Education","value":"special-education"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-and-what-does-it-look-like-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation","title":"ICD-11 Classification for Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-common-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-children","title":"How Common Is Non-Verbal or Minimally Verbal Presentation in Children?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-known-contributing-factors-for-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-early-childhood","title":"Contributing factors for non-verbal / minimally verbal presentation"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation","title":"Types and Levels of Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation","title":"What is Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation?"}],"summary":"Non-verbal / minimally verbal presentation is a descriptive functional profile — no or very limited spoken words — not a diagnosis. ICD-11 captures it via autism (6A02) severity qualifiers, developmental speech/language disorders (6A01) and the ICF, with hearing loss excluded first and AAC introduced early.","answer_md":"*A child who speaks few or no words is communicating constantly — our task is to read the channel, not assume its absence.*\n\n## In short\n**Non-verbal / minimally verbal presentation** describes a child who uses no spoken words or only a very limited spoken repertoire (commonly fewer than ~20–30 functional words or phrases) for communication. It is a **descriptive functional profile, not a diagnosis** — it may accompany autism spectrum disorder, developmental language disorder, intellectual developmental disorder, hearing loss, childhood apraxia of speech or selective mutism. The clinical priority is to characterise *receptive* versus *expressive* capacity and the use of non-spoken modalities.\n\n## The ICD-11 framing\nICD-11 does not list \"non-verbal\" as a standalone entity; rather it captures the presentation through functioning. Under **6A02 Autism spectrum disorder**, severity qualifiers explicitly note *absence of functional language*. **6A01 Developmental speech or language disorders** and **6A00 Disorders of intellectual development** describe the underlying impairment, while the **ICF** frames the functional impact on communication and participation. In early childhood (12–48 months) watch for: limited or absent babble and first words, reliance on gesture, leading or crying to request, comprehension that may outstrip expression, and — critically — whether intent to communicate is present even when speech is not. Always exclude **hearing loss** first.\n\n## When to refer\nRefer promptly for any plateau or loss of words, no words by 16 months, or marked expressive–receptive gap. AAC is appropriate early and does not suppress speech.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nA clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online form. We profile each [non-verbal / minimally verbal](/nonverbal-minimally-verbal) child across modalities, then build communication through [speech therapy](/speech-therapy) and AAC. See how the [AbilityScore® is established](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated).\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11 (autism spectrum disorder, developmental speech or language disorders); WHO ICF functioning framework; ASHA guidance on minimally verbal communication and AAC.\n\n**Next step —** Refer a minimally verbal child for a structured communication profile at a [Pinnacle centre](/speech-therapy).","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal: ICD-11 Features","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Treat every gesture, gaze and sound as communication and respond to it — honouring intent builds the foundation for speech and AAC alike.","published_at":"2026-06-10T10:42:00.172548+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation","title":"ICD-11 Classification for Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation","reason":"Linked from 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