Meghan Gallardo specializes in cultivating communication skills through trauma-informed approaches, this speech-language pathologist combines almost two decades of experience with a compassionate, person-centered focus. She empowers individuals from diverse backgrounds to embrace their authentic voices and communicate confidently.
Communication is often taken for granted until it’s no longer an option. When words fail, frustration, isolation, and uncertainty can take their place, not just for the individual but for their loved ones as well. Whether due to autism, stroke, traumatic brain injury, or other conditions, losing verbal communication can feel like an insurmountable challenge. But true communication goes beyond words.
When my training as a speech-language pathologist felt useless
I’ll never forget the moment I realized how unprepared I was for real-life communication challenges. It wasn’t in a therapy room, or school office, or even during my studies to become a speech-language pathologist. That happened in a crowded Cracker Barrel in Kentucky on a Sunday afternoon, watching my grandmother struggle to order her lunch.
She had suddenly lost her ability to speak and understand language after brain surgery. In that moment, surrounded by family who loved her but had no idea how to help, I saw firsthand just how isolating it could be to lose your voice.
Sharing a Sunday lunch with family that she didn’t have to cook was one of her favorite weekly activities, and within a fortnight, this ritual completely turned upside down. She was frustrated. My grandfather was frustrated. The waiter was awkwardly trying to pretend nothing was happening, and my aunt’s eyes filled with water, trying to hold back tears. I sat there, a trained communication professional, halfway through my career, juggling a toddler, and I felt utterly helpless.
I couldn’t detach myself as I can professionally; this was my family, and I was feeling the loss we all shared at this table. We feared that without shared communication, even though my grandmother was sitting right with us, we had already lost her. Her essence.
That moment has never left me. It shaped everything I do today.
The truth is, that communication is more than just words, it’s about connection. And when someone loses the ability to speak, whether from autism, a stroke, or a traumatic brain injury, that connection feels like it’s slipping away for everyone involved. The acceptance of that loss feels palpable in the air. Just like in the scenario I lived through, families are left scrambling without support, unsure how to reach their loved one, and unsure of who to even contact for help.
In the case of my grandmother, we sought out outpatient speech therapy, but she was not eligible based on being a Hospice patient due to a terminal diagnosis. Different families face different barriers, but the commonality is that we all wish we knew how to reconnect with our loved ones and want to be sure they are as happy as possible. Even for those lucky enough to find professional help, it’s common for professionals, teachers, therapists, and medical staff to secretly feel just as lost, wishing they had a clear plan.
Essential AAC communication strategies for nonverbal individuals
To combat this, I created a video support, Essential AAC Communication Strategies for Nonverbal Individuals, for moments just like these. It’s the resource I wish my family had in that restaurant, the one I wish every caregiver, educator, and speech-language pathologist could turn to when they need guidance. Before a family is discharged from the hospital, I wish there had been support like this given where I could have found hope and a clear guide on what to expect regarding the communication abilities of someone who is suddenly nonverbal I also would have loved to have had this concise tool to refer to when I started as a speech-language pathologist because this was not covered in college coursework. It took decades of hands-on experience working in hospitals, clinics, homes, daycares, and schools for me to develop my approach. This is for the parents, spouses, teachers, and therapists who simply need somewhere to start when words aren’t an option.
You are not alone; the silent struggle
First, I want to let you know that losing speech doesn’t mean losing the need to express yourself or to be involved and interact with joyful experiences in life. But it’s hard to know what to do when communication barriers feel like brick walls, and it’s hard not to go down the path of giving up with apathy. If you’ve ever felt like:
You’re guessing at what your nonverbal loved one wants and hoping you get it right,
You feel frustrated and exhausted trying to communicate,
You want to help but don’t know where to start
Then you’re not alone, and there’s hope.
Millions of people live with significant communication challenges even though it may seem like you’re the only family with this difficulty:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): About 30% of autistic individuals are nonverbal or minimally verbal (Tager-Flusberg & Kasari, 2013).
Aphasia (Stroke-Related Speech Loss): Over 2 million people in the U.S. have aphasia (National Aphasia Association, 2021)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Around 5.3 million Americans live with disabilities caused by brain injuries, many affecting speech (CDC, 2022).
Intellectual disabilities: Approximately 57.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities experience communication difficulties, with 23.5% reporting severe difficulties.
These numbers aren’t just statistics. They represent real people: children, parents, spouses, grandparents, and friends. All kinds of people need a way to be heard and a way to connect within their families and communities.
So, where do you start?
If you don’t know what to do next, here are some practical, immediate strategies you can use to improve communication with a nonverbal individual:
1. Speak with your whole body
Communication isn’t just verbal. Facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, and tone of voice convey just as much meaning as words. If words aren’t working, exaggerate your expressions and movements to help convey intent.
2. Use visual supports
Picture boards, simple drawings, photos, or apps like Proloquo2Go and TouchChat can bridge the gap.
Even simply pointing at objects can help create meaning.
3. Don’t rush, give time to respond
Some people need 10, 20, or even 30 seconds to process what you’re saying and respond. It feels like forever, but don’t jump in too quickly; wait for them patiently.
4. Offer choices instead of open-ended questions
Instead of "What do you want to eat?" try "Do you want pizza or a sandwich?" It’s easier to pick from two choices than to generate an answer from scratch. Hold up both physical objects or symbols of the objects. Watch for eye gaze to go between hands.
5. Encourage any form of communication
A nod, a blink, smiling, a hand squeeze, pointing, writing, even any attempt at verbal speech, all communication counts.
Celebrate every effort to connect and enjoy just simply sharing space.
6. Use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
AAC isn’t just for people who will never speak. It can support language growth for anyone with communication challenges and is sometimes used as a bridge, even temporarily. If a device, app, or picture system is available, use it with them! There never is a reason not to, and we have research that shows it doesn’t hinder verbal communication development. In my experience, symbols have only helped create even more communication to grow in all ways.
Caregiver coaching is the key to making speech therapy work
I’ve learned something really important in my years as an SLP. The most life-changing progress doesn’t happen in therapy rooms. It happens in homes, in the middle of busy classrooms, right in the bustle of daily life. When caregivers are given the knowledge and confidence to support communication within their natural environments huge leaps in growth happen. Nothing can replace the power of a confident and committed caregiver in the life of a person struggling to communicate traditionally.
Studies show that caregiver-led communication strategies can be just as effective, and in my experience, I’d argue more effective than direct therapy alone (Roberts et al., 2014). Yet, so many families are left without guidance when the therapy session ends. Many families expect to drop their loved ones off with the SLP and for the weekly session to somehow magically fix them. The real magic happens when I can support the client right in the mess of real life and meet the family within their homes and community.
This isn’t just a gap, and no one person is to blame; it’s a failure of the system’s design. Insurance companies often won’t cover caregiver training explicitly, and schools traditionally require direct therapy within the confines of buildings. So even though caregiver coaching is one of the most effective tools we have, there is a long way to go before it is a supported and accepted part of standard care. So, we have to find ways to fill that gap ourselves.
Your next step
If you’ve ever thought, “I just wish someone would tell me what to do,” this is for you. Yes, I spent weeks putting together a simple, no-fluff video series to help you understand exactly where to start and how to support and connect with a nonverbal loved one.
You can access the video here on my website.
This isn’t just for parents. It’s for teachers, medical staff, even speech-language pathologists, and anyone working with nonverbal individuals. If you’ve ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or unsure how to help, this is your sign that you don’t have to do this alone. Communication is possible. Sometimes, we just need the right tools to unlock it.
Not being able to communicate verbally can feel overwhelming for families, but you don’t have to face it alone. Take the first step forward by using these strategies with your loved one. If you need guidance and support, book a consultation today. Let’s make sure all voices, even the ones that speak without words, are heard!
Read more from Meghan Gallardo
Meghan Gallardo, Speech Language Pathologist | Communication Coach
Meghan Gallardo is the founder of Harmony Speech Therapy Solutions, LLC, and a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist with nearly two decades of experience transforming the lives of over 1,000 individuals and families. She has worked across clinics, schools, homes, daycares, and early childhood programs in four states, specializing in trauma-informed approaches that build authentic communication skills. Meghan's journey from adversity to empowerment fuels her mission to amplify every voice and create safe and supportive spaces for growth. She blends evidence-based practices with emotional and intuitive care through her work, helping clients rewrite their stories, connect deeply, and thrive.
