Autism and Speech Therapy

The developmental condition of Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, affects one’s ability to communicate and socialize. It manifests in a wide variety of symptoms but often impacts speech and language skills. Some specific speech issues may include:

●    Echolalia, or repetition of words or phrases

●    Using a monotonous voice or a sing-song voice

●    Poor nonverbal skills such as lack of gesturing or no response to pointing

●    Talking off-topic or giving unrelated answers

●    Problems with articulation often due to oral-motor development

●    Pronoun confusion (e.g. using “you” when they mean “I”)

●    Poor conversation skills in general

Autism is treated by a variety of behavior therapies including speech therapy for issues like the above. Many people think of speech therapy as teaching a child how to speak and articulate sounds correctly. However, this therapy could also include instruction on vocabulary, sentence structure, and social cues. Speech therapy may be done one-on-one or in a group setting by a speech language pathologist. The types of goals established will be individualized based on a child’s unique strengths and needs. Examples of goals of speech therapy include:

●    Improved rhythm of speech

●    Naming of people and things correctly

●    Effective use of sentences and words in context

●    Identification and verbalization of emotions and feelings

●    Use of nonverbal gestures

●    Eye contact, personal space, and other social skills

An SLP may also assess an adolescent’s need for, and ability to use, “augmentative or alternative communication” (AAC). For those that struggle with verbal communication, this could be something relatively simple such as using pen and paper to help communicate, more sophisticated systems like computerized devices, or other types of alternative communication of varying degrees of complexity.

While it is true that the earlier speech therapy begins, the more benefit it has to offer, a person with autism can still achieve strong outcomes from this therapy at any age. Speech therapy can play a crucial role in your child’s comprehensive care plan. 

Positive Reinforcement not only offers  ABA therapy services for North Virginia, West Virginia including cities like Glen Allen Virginia,  Winchester Virginia, Richmond Virginia. .