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Listening Before Speaking: Why Regulation and Auditory Input Are Central to Language Development in Autism and Sensory Processing Disorders Introduction Language development is often misunderstood as a process driven primarily by speech production. However, neuroscience and developmental psychology consistently show that language begins with listening , not speaking. For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and sensory processing difficulties (SPD), improving the quality of auditory attention and regulation is far more important than focusing solely on speech output mechanisms. Any child who is not deaf has the potential to be trained to listen. When listening becomes sustained and meaningful, understanding improves, and communication follows. This article explores why listening, regulation, and cognitive readiness are foundational to speech development and why focusing only on motor speech exercises may miss the core neurodevelopmental need. Listening as the Foundation of Lang...