I hope this isn't a repeat of a comment that I jsut typed but it didn't seem to come thru?!
But here it is again just it case it got deleted or something went wrong..
There are many devices for those who don't speak and it depends on their current abilities. I've worked with those on the autism spectrum who are non verbal and there are so many devices. For beginners it's often a simple image of what they want...say a drink is a glass of water. or a happy or sad face to express how they are feeling.
I worked with a young lady who couldn't move at all and her team was working with her on a device that she just had to focus her eyes on the image. I worked with her on art and she would then focus on the square of the color she wanted or the shape she wanted and then we'd go from there as she let us know how she wanted her art to look. We would have to control her arm as she was unable to but she loved it. She would blink let me know where she wanted a shape placed on the canvas and then I'd put one there and assist her with the color she wanted to fill it it.
Never underestimate the power that lies within these kids! They may appear to be only 5 months old but they are in there....sometimes all it takes is the right method for them to communicate.
I would think the health team you work with should be able to direct you to a communication specialist to take a look and see what might work and try different things. But sometimes one needs to advocate and push for it. Especially when you have a doctor that says they won't be able to do anything. And it seems your son has already surpassed what his doctor thought he'd be able to do.
Also....each person will be ready for communication devices when they are ready....sometimes you need to try again later on as the person has so many other things they are dealing with internally that we have no idea about and just aren't ready yet.
Also his feelings of anxiety and irritation may be caused by his inability to have a way to communicate! This I've seen is a real problem for non verbal people. Another young man i worked with was just out of high school and non verbal and would have many outbursts. but once his parents got him introduced to a specialist in communication devices and methods he was finally able to get his thoughts to others and his outbursts were greatly reduced. He was also one of those who just wasn't ready for anything like that when he was younger and in grade school but as a young adult when introduced to it again he was ready. We figured he was over with trying to figure life out with school and such and now that he was done with that he was ready to move on.
So if at the least this could help get your son to express when he isn't feeling good or where something hurts etc. I imagine it would be very helpful for both of you.
I wish you the best in finding answers with the gi stuff going on and I hope you find someone to assist in getting communication at some level with him.