| Children with autism not only have trouble | | | | the parents of 210 preschool children asked the |
| communicating socially, but may also have | | | | parents about their expectations before speech |
| problems behaving. The goal of speech therapy is | | | | and language therapy, and then asked about any |
| to improve all aspects of communication. For | | | | improvements in their children after therapy. |
| example, sometimes children with autism have | | | | Parents said play, social skills, and confidence, as |
| trouble understanding when it is acceptable to use | | | | well as speech, improved after therapy. The |
| bossy or polite requests. Speech therapy can help | | | | child's behaviors at home, in school, and in public |
| children to learn what sort of tone they should | | | | were also better. While these improvements in |
| use when speaking. | | | | behavior are not generally used by speech |
| Speech therapy sessions will vary greatly | | | | therapists to indicate success, they can be very |
| depending upon the therapist and the child. | | | | meaningful to the child and parents. |
| Augmentative and alternative communication | | | | Speech Therapists Enter the Community |
| (AAC) is one type of speech therapy that is used | | | | Speech therapists can also be a wonderful |
| for children who do not imitate the sounds of | | | | resource for people offering services to children |
| others. For these children, several speech therapy | | | | with autism. For example, Aprile Mickeys at |
| methods may help them learn to speak. AAC is | | | | Haircuts for Peanuts in Rochester, New York |
| often the first strategy to help them learn enough | | | | specializes in cutting the hair of children with |
| communication to be able to have some social | | | | special needs. Haircuts for Peanuts has always |
| interactions. There are five other methods that | | | | been a fun place for children (and even their older |
| may also help these children: | | | | siblings), complete with a circus-theme and lots of |
| 1) avoid pressuring children to speak, and using | | | | toys. All of the stylists have been trained by |
| puppets and play as encouragement instead; | | | | speech and occupational therapists to work with |
| 2) imitating the child and they may start imitating | | | | children with autism and other special needs. Each |
| others; | | | | of the hair cutting stations has toys especially for |
| 3) using exaggerated sounds and speaking slowly; | | | | children with special needs and the stylists have |
| 4) using visual feedback and touch to help teach | | | | learned techniques to calm children who might be |
| skills; and | | | | anxious. |
| 5) adding exercises for mouth movements that | | | | Learning More About Speech Therapy |
| are specific to speech. | | | | Autism is a condition covered under the United |
| Speech Therapy Improves Behavior | | | | States' Individuals with Disabilities Education Act |
| Many scientific studies demonstrate that speech | | | | (IDEA) of 2004. The cost of speech therapy is |
| therapy is able to improve the communication | | | | often covered by the government through this |
| skills of children with autism. In addition, many | | | | act. |
| children also show improved behavior after | | | | Please visit Healing Thresholds to learn more |
| speech and language therapy. A 2009 survey of | | | | about speech therapy and other autism therapies. |