Speech Therapy - National Autism Resources

Information from: http://www.nationalautismresources.com/speechtherapy.html

The goal of speech therapy should be to improve useful communication. No one treatment method has been found to successfully improve communication in all individuals who have autism. However, the best speech therapy for autism usually, begins early, is individually tailored, targets behavior and communication, and involves parents or primary caregivers.

Some Types of Speech & Language Therapy for Autism Include:

• Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC): a broad term for forms of communication that supplement or enhance speech, including electronic devices, picture boards, and sign language
• ABA, Functional Communication Training, Verbal Behavior, or Discrete trial training: therapies that teach language and behaviors through a system of rewards and consequences.
• Peer mentors/circle of friends: trained peers who interact, coach and play with the autistic child during the day.
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS): a method of using picture symbols to communicate.
• Relationship development intervention (RDI): a treatment program that centers on the belief that individuals with autism can participate in authentic emotional relationships if they are exposed to them in a gradual, systematic way.
• Sign Language using signs made with the hands and other movements, including facial expressions and postures of the body to communicate.
• Social Stories: stories that are created or adapted for a person to teach specific social skills.

Working with a Speech and Language Pathologist Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) conduct evaluations, work with individuals with ASD to treat speech and language deficits, (motor speech, semantics, and pragmatics (verbal and nonverbal language social language). For non-speaking individuals, SLPs design augmentative and alternative communication systems. Not all SLPs are trained in working with autistic kids so it is important to make sure your SLP has adequate training.

“According to data from ASHA's National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS), two thirds of preschoolers with ASD showed gains of one or more levels on the Spoken Language Production Functional Communication Measure (FCM) following speech-language pathology intervention. FCMs are a series of seven-point rating scales ranging from least functional (Level 1) to most functional (Level 7) designed to measure improvement in a variety of clinical areas. Similar gains were also seen in two other frequently treated areas–spoken language comprehension and pragmatics with 72% and 63% of children achieving one or more levels of progress respectively. Furthermore, NOMS data reveal that children who made functional gains in these areas received approximately 2-5 times more intervention (depending on the disorder being treated) than children who did not.” American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Treatment Efficacy Summary.