Speech Therapy (ST)

I will be the same until your old age,

and I will bear you up when you go gray.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will bear and save you.

Isaiah 46:4

Miles has been attending Speech Therapy with Brieann & Alicia at All About Speech & Language (AASL). They have a heart for helping children with Autism which shows in every interaction they have with "their kiddos". We can not express enough gratitude for the progress they have achieved so far with Miles. They are remarkable, enthusiastic and have become part of our family! We have been so blessed to have them on our journey through Autism and know Miles' life has been made infinitely better because of their dedication to help Miles succeed in life. Quantity and Quality of services do matter.  

 Miles & Marley 

with 

Mrs. Alicia & Mrs. Brieann

What Exactly IS a Speech Therapist?

Speech therapy involves the treatment of speech and communication disorders - which means it's a very wide-ranging field. A certified speech pathologist (sometimes called a therapist) must hold a master's degree. That person may work in a private setting, a clinic, a school or an institution, and may well work as part of an educational team. They use a wide range of tools and interventions, ranging from toys and play-like therapy to formal tests and speech curricula.

Why Would a Person With Autism Need to See a Speech Therapist?

Almost anyone diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder will be recommended for speech therapy. This may seem odd, as many people with Autism are either non-verbal (at the lower end of the spectrum) or extremely verbal (at the upper end of the spectrum). But even very verbal people with Asperger Syndrome are likely to misuse and misunderstand language on a regular basis. And even non-verbal people can certainly develop communication skills - and may even develop spoken language skills over time.

What Does a Speech Therapist Do for People with Autism?

Speech therapy involves much more than than simply teaching a child to correctly pronounce words. In fact, a speech therapist working with an autistic child or adult may work on a wide range of skills including:

• Non-verbal communication. This may include teaching gestural communication, or training with PECS (picture exchange cards), electronic talking devices, and other non-verbal communication tools.
• Speech pragmatics. It's all well and good to know how to say "good morning." But it's just as important to know when, how and to whom you should say it.
• Conversation skills. Knowing how to make statements is not the same thing as carrying on conversations. Speech therapists may work on back-and-forth exchange, sometimes known as "joint attention."
• Concept skills. A person's ability to state abstract concepts doesn't always reflect their ability to understand them. Autistic people often have a tough time with ideas like "few," "justice," and "liberty." Speech therapists may work on building concept skills.

How Can I Find a Qualified Speech Therapist?

Because speech-language therapy is so well-established, it is very likely that your medical insurance will cover all or part of the cost. It's also quite likely that your child's school or early intervention provider will provide the service for free.

For more information about finding a qualified speech-language therapist, contact the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Social Skills Training and Speech-Language Therapy:

Children with Asperger Syndrome can expand and improve their social skills through training and therapy. Though children with AS may have strong language skills, it is important that they learn how to express their thoughts and feelings appropriately. Their ability to interact with others can improve with lots of practice and explicit teaching. Therapists often teach social skills to children with AS/HFA using visual techniques such as social stories, or using exercises that involve the children in various social situations. Social skills groups have proved to be very beneficial to children with AS in teaching them how to interact with their peers. Speech and language therapy may also help these children to communicate better. This therapy could correct awkward methods of speaking such as monotone, and help children to better understand and interpret the speech and communication signals of others such as humor, eye contact, and hand gestures.

This info can be found at Autism Speaks, About.com and AASL

Miles working with Mrs. Brieann

 

and Mrs. Alicia 

Has your child participated in Speech Therapy? 

Let us know!