Inside the Mind of a Non-Speaking Autistic Child with Greysen

Dr. Brandon Crawford welcomes Greyson Ghali, a non-speaking 8-year-old who uses a spelling board to communicate. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the "brain-body disconnect," the reality of apraxia, and the extraordinary intuitive abilities that non-speaking individuals often possess.

Greyson was initially labeled with "intellectual impairment," a diagnosis his parents now realize was a mistake caused by testing methods that rely on motor skills rather than cognitive ability. Through the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM), Greyson found his voice at age 4, proving he was already literate and excelling in advanced subjects like World War II history and chemistry. The episode also touches on the "unexplainable," including Greyson’s ability to "visit" Dr. Crawford in a dream and his mastery over physical electronics using his mind.

Key Takeaways

1. The Intelligence Trap: Non-speaking does not mean "non-thinking." Greyson explains that society often underestimates those with autism because their bodies don't follow their minds. "I'm not stupid. I'm so smart if you get to know me," he spells out.
2. Apraxia vs. Cognition: Dr. Crawford explains that speech requires an incredibly complex synchronization of the Broca’s area, supplemental motor areas, cerebellum, and cortical bulb pathways. In Greyson, these networks are often hyperfunctional, but the motor execution is dysregulated—like trying to write while wearing an oven mitt.‍
3. Non-Locality of Consciousness: The episode explores Greyson’s intuitive "superpowers," including knowing the names of deceased relatives he was never told about and "dropping into" Dr. Crawford's dream to show him what it felt like to be non-speaking.

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