Even though autism is understood as a triad of impairments in communication
skills, behaviors, and social ability and understanding many people tend to
focus on the first problem. Language can be a caregiver's first clue that
some part of the developmental trajectory is off course. However, many
parents will also feel that boys speak later than girls and may even dismiss
early delays as more of a later talker problem rather than a red flag for an
autism spectrum disorder. Some children are indeed just late talkers and
yet, how and when a child uses language can serve as a clue to not only
communicative abilities but also social abilities. Language isn't just for
ourselves, we have to use language with others and sometimes that is the
most difficult part about verbal speech and autism. Some children with
autism are using language and appear to have a good number of words and
phrases but upon closer inspection the child isn't using these phrases
functionally and may even what is known as echolalia. Other children with
autism may have fantastic language abilities and yet have poor social use of
language or pragmatics. And we may even have children who are very limited
in their verbal skills or completely non-verbal; however, in the interest of
using the least dangerous assumption it's always the best idea to assume the
child has something to say but may need to say it in an alternative way.
This section discusses how children may or may not use language and what are
the options available to children who may not speak at all.
The lowdown on Speech Therapy
I think Speech Therapists (also known as SLPs) are basically just a gift from heaven. OK, so maybe not everyone is going to agree with that statement and certainly, not all SLPs are created equally and some are better than others. Speech therapists when they are on their game; are inventive, exciting for kids to play with, and can teach you a ton of information. The trick is to find one that ‘fits’ your child’s style. This is the case for any kind of therapist. Finding one that clicks with your child is the goal. This can take some trial and
Augmentative And Alternative Communication
Most people have not heard much about Augmentative and Alternative Communication with the exception of sign language. AAC, despite the big complicated words, is just an alternate way of communicating with others that doesn’t involve using your voice. When typical people communicate they do speak using their natural voice but communication involves a lot more than that, especially for children on the Autism spectrum. For one, there’s eye contact that can be very hard for children on the spectrum. Two, there’s a give and take to a conversation—you
A Little Word About Behaviors
Most of your experienced parents and professionals will talk about a child’s behaviors and what they are like. A person who is new to all of this is trying to figure out a truckload of information and is now trying to determine exactly what a ‘behavior’ is. Well, there are lots and lots of different kinds of behaviors that children on the Autism Spectrum can have and do. One kind of behavior is the meltdown. You may not have known the proper term when your child is completely freaking out in the Target parking lot and people are coming out of the stor
(AAC) Augmentative and Alternative Communication Links
AAC Intervention AAC Parents Google GroupGoogle Group that is for parents of children who use some form of AAC. Ability Research Abledata AbleNet ACOLUGListserv for adults who use AAC, parents of children who use AAC, and anyone who either works with AAC, or is inter
Ewan's Augmentative Communication Story
I thought it would be nice to share our son’s experience with augmentative communication in this section. I do have my son’s story basically all over the site, but here’s a quick way to find out the problems we’ve encountered with communication and the strategies that we’ve used to deal with communication problems and roadblocks. >First of all, when my son was evaluated for early intervention services at 13 months, he did show a marked delay in speech development. He did not refer to me as mama although he did have a
The lowdown on Speech Therapy
I think Speech Therapists (also known as SLPs) are basically just a gift from heaven. OK, so maybe not everyone is going to agree with that statement and certainly, not all SLPs are created equally and some are better than others. Speech therapists when they are on their game; are inventive, exciting for kids to play with, and can teach you a ton of information. The trick is to find one that ‘fits’ your child’s style. This is the case for any kind of therapist. Finding one that clicks with your child is the goal. This can take some trial and
Augmentative And Alternative Communication
Most people have not heard much about Augmentative and Alternative Communication with the exception of sign language. AAC, despite the big complicated words, is just an alternate way of communicating with others that doesn’t involve using your voice. When typical people communicate they do speak using their natural voice but communication involves a lot more than that, especially for children on the Autism spectrum. For one, there’s eye contact that can be very hard for children on the spectrum. Two, there’s a give and take to a conversation—you
A Little Word About Behaviors
Most of your experienced parents and professionals will talk about a child’s behaviors and what they are like. A person who is new to all of this is trying to figure out a truckload of information and is now trying to determine exactly what a ‘behavior’ is. Well, there are lots and lots of different kinds of behaviors that children on the Autism Spectrum can have and do. One kind of behavior is the meltdown. You may not have known the proper term when your child is completely freaking out in the Target parking lot and people are coming out of the stor
(AAC) Augmentative and Alternative Communication Links
AAC Intervention AAC Parents Google GroupGoogle Group that is for parents of children who use some form of AAC. Ability Research Abledata AbleNet ACOLUGListserv for adults who use AAC, parents of children who use AAC, and anyone who either works with AAC, or is inter
Ewan's Augmentative Communication Story
I thought it would be nice to share our son’s experience with augmentative communication in this section. I do have my son’s story basically all over the site, but here’s a quick way to find out the problems we’ve encountered with communication and the strategies that we’ve used to deal with communication problems and roadblocks. >First of all, when my son was evaluated for early intervention services at 13 months, he did show a marked delay in speech development. He did not refer to me as mama although he did have a