Aspergers sufferer Martin Finn, 20, has non-verbal autism — meaning he can’t speak and can only communicate using one word noises.
But just like singer Gareth Gates, who has a stammer, Martin finds the words come easily when he puts them to music.
So his parents John and Norma couldn’t have been prouder to see their son perform Ronan Keating hit When You Say Nothing At All at last weekend’s Autism’s Got Talent show in London.
John said: “For someone with autism as severe as Martin’s, to be able to sing is incredible.
“When you see him go on stage, the transformation is unbelievable.
“As he walks up to the microphone, he will rock from side to side and be unsteady on his feet, but as soon as he starts singing, he steadies up and is totally in control.”
Sing star ... Martin is like a different person on stage
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Martin, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, was diagnosed with autism at the age of three but his condition worsened as he got older.
Parents John and Norma — who care for him full-time — say it is as if he is “trapped in the body of a toddler.”
Martin — who is not capable of understanding a children’s book —reads the lyrics on CDs and then listens to songs on constant loop to learn the words.
John said: “We first thought he was just looking at the pictures but we then realised that he was learning them.
“He won’t read an actual book because to him the words have no meaning.
“If you give him a newspaper or a magazine, he will go straight to the entertainment or bands section and ignores the rest.
“If we take Martin to a shop, he will head straight for the music section - it’s as if he’s totally guided by music, it’s his life.
“He loves pop music and Spanish and Mexican sounds, I think because it tends to be upbeat and have a fairly constant noise.”
Family ties ... Martin is cared for full-time by parents John and Norma
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Martin — whose favourite artists are Olly Murs and Bruno Mars — has been at a special school since he was 14 which has helped his musical talent develop.
John said: “Their teaching methods are excellent and they have really helped Martin develop a true skill from his illness.”
And Martin’s love of music is especially important because it helps keep him calm.
His condition means he can become extremely violent, particularly if he panics.
Any high-pitched, sudden noises or a power-cut can push Martin over the edge and he will lash out at anyone close to him, which leaves his parents permanently at risk.
These episodes mean John and Norma have two of everything in their house so not to disturb Martin’s mood, including two televisions, radios and computers.
John said: “He can’t accept anything going wrong so we try and keep everything just the way he knows and likes it.
“For some reason he takes most of his anger out on his mother - he will attack his mother with a vengeance.”
John added: “We won’t always be around to look after him, so we try and give him the best life we can and put as many things in place for his future.
“We love him to bits — he’s just one in a million.”