Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA) Week 3 Practice Test

Understanding the frequency of non-verbal communication in autism. A sizable portion of autistic individuals have limited or no functional spoken language and rely on other methods—gestures, picture systems, AAC devices, typing, or supported communication partners. Across studies, the commonly cited range is roughly 25% to 30%. That makes the mid-20s to around 30% the best fit for describing who is non-verbal within autism. The lower options underestimate how common nonverbal presentation is, while the higher range would imply a larger share than what most broad-population data show. Keep in mind that language development varies: some who are non-verbal in early childhood may develop speech later with therapy, while others may rely on alternative communication throughout life.