VIDEO: 'Mum, I want a yoghurt' — brave autistic girl speaks for first time in 2 years

Little Esme Mathew, aged four, had been unable to speak properly since she started showing signs of the developmental disability at 21 months old.

Now, following specialist therapy treatment called applied behavioural analysis (ABA) she has managed to say a few sentences, much to the delight of her mum Chrissy.

Last year The Bolton News told how Esme and Chrissy, from Great Lever, started fundraising for the therapy last summer when they took part in a 500-mile cycle ride between Land’s End and Bolton.

Since her first sentence, Esme has since said a few more, including "I want go in car", "I want a piggy back", "I want a lolly", "Open door" and "I want dinner".

As part of the therapy, Esme took part in special play activities and was taught relevant skills in communication, language and play. Thousands of pounds was raised in the cycle ride to pay for the treatment.

Ms Mathews, who is delighted with her progress, said: “I was overjoyed when Esme started to get my attention and ask me for her favourite foods using just single words without any prompting. Just a few short weeks later she was asking me in sentences. I was blown away. I’ve worried so much that she would never be able to express her needs and wants. She didn’t find working with picture cards easy at all, so until we started this therapy she had no way of communicating what she wanted.”

Little Esme’s autism was only officially recognised the day before her fourth birthday in December after waiting more than 18 confusing and difficult months for the diagnosis.

At that time she stopped making eye contact, stopped using the words she had, stopped responding to her name, and stopped showing any interest in engaging with others.

Despite beginning to talk, Esme - who has a delay of almost three years in some areas - still has a way to go.

Ms Mathews said: “This therapy has been life-changing for us as a family. I’m amazed and inspired by my daughter’s progress. But she still has a long, long way to go. Her recent assessments for diagnosis put Esme's development at 12-18 months, that's a delay of almost 3 years in some areas.

“I worry constantly and sometimes feel like I lose more of my daughter every day, and then she makes progress through her ABA programme and I feel like I get bits of her back.

“I am grateful every day for the kindness shown by everyone who has supported us. Without their generosity we would not have been able to do this therapy and Esme would not be making the progress she is.”

The family, including Esme’s father Pete, will continue to raise money and awareness of autism and ABA.

Donations can be made at gogetfunding.com/esmes-autism-journey.