What is Autism?

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can cause restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviour and difficulties with social communication.

It is also known as ‘Autism Spectrum Disorder’ because Autism is a spectrum! The characteristics are varied in each individual, meaning each person on the autism spectrum has…

• Different strengths & weaknesses

• Different levels of severity

• Different developmental paths

Did you know…communication challenges are a central feature of autism!

One of the key hallmarks of Autism is difficulties with communication and social interaction. Children and adults on the spectrum can have… 

– Limited verbal expression

– Difficulty learning language

– Difficulty understanding spoken language (i.e. trouble following instructions, difficulty answering questions appropriately, trouble following conversation) 

– Poor social communication skills (i.e. poor topic maintenance, difficulty taking turns, trouble understanding social norms) 

– Difficulty interpreting figurative language (e.g. jokes and idioms)

– Trouble initiating or maintaining a conversation 

– Difficulty making or maintaining friendships

These difficulties necessitate that speech therapy plays a central role in the management of Autism.

How does speech therapy help?

A speech therapist can help with… 

– Enhancing non-verbal communication skills

An estimated 25-35% of children with autism are minimally verbal or remain nonverbal (Rose et. al., 2016). For individuals who remain minimally verbal or have no verbal expression, a speech therapist can help by facilitating the use of Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) such as gestured language orthe use of various communication devices.

– Building verbal expression, social skills, and language proficiency 

Speech therapy can address the specific areas of language that are difficult for an individual. A speech therapist can also help to build verbal expression for individuals who are experiencing difficulty expressing themselves verbally.

– Reducing behavioural challenges associated with communication difficulties

Individuals on the autism spectrum may present with behavioural difficulties due to a myriad of reasons – one of them being related to communication. For instance, a child who has difficulty expressing himself or herself can develop behavioural challenges as a result of communication frustration. On the other hand, challenging behaviour may arise from difficulties with certain pragmatic skills such as poor turn-taking, difficulty making requests, or a limited understanding of social norms. Speech therapy can address the communication difficulties that sometimes cause difficult behaviour.

How early can my child start speech therapy?

As soon as you identify a concern! 

Early intervention is crucial in supporting children with Autism — even before a formal diagnosis. Early intervention (typically before the age of 3) will provide targeted support during critical years of brain development to maximise a child’s potential and overall well-being in later years of life.

To enquire about our Speech Therapy Services contact us:

Phone/WhatsApp: 0739418053

Email: megan.auby@hotmail.co.za 

Pearl Donzwa

Speech-Language Therapist

References:

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Autism spectrum disorder. In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Ed., 50-59.

Council, K., Dixon, A., Ransom, T., Romanoski, G., Spann, E., Louw, B., & Sears, J. A. (2022). Autism toolkit: Caregivers guide to autism. Vanderbilt Consortium LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities).

Rose, V., Trembath, D., Keen, D., & Paynter, J. (2016). The proportion of minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder in a community-based early intervention programme. Journal of intellectual disability research: JIDR, 60(5), 464–477. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12284

Each person’s brain is unique and works in different ways. Neurodiversity is the term we can use to describe these differences. Because of the unique makeup of each person’s brain, everybody learns, communicates, and even processes the environment in different ways.

When a person’s brain functions in a way that society or culture deems to be ‘typical’ for their age and level of development, they are considered to have ‘neurotypical’brain function. 

On the other hand, when a person’s brain operates differently from what is considered average or ‘neurotypical’, they are considered to have ‘neurodivergent’ brain function.

What can cause neurodivergence?

Neurodivergence can take many forms, and each individual’s experience is unique. For instance, developmental disorders can affect early brain development and cause neurological differences in learning, attention, communication, and sensory processing. While mental health conditions can cause neurological differences that affect mood, thought processes, and behaviour. Still, not all forms of neurodivergence are diagnosable! Meaning that many people who may present as ‘neurotypical’ do in fact experience some sort of neurodivergence.

So, how does all of this relate to speech therapy?

Neurodivergence can sometimes affect a child’s communication skills and cause difficulties with speech, language, and social communication. 

Perhaps your child’s development is not following a ‘typical’ developmental path and he or she seems to have difficulty with speech, language, and communication. You may be wondering where to start.

Firstly, remember that no one type of brain function is ‘correct’ or ‘incorrect’! Many challenges experienced by children who are neurodivergent can be overcome by providing the necessary support, accommodations, and letting go of ‘neurotypical’ standards. By providing a supportive environment and collaborating with the right professionals, you can help your child thrive and reach their full potential.

Here’s how you can begin empowering your child to communicate with confidence and success …

1. Collaborate with a Speech Therapist:

If your child is struggling with communication, the best place to begin is getting in touch with a speech therapist. A speech therapist will be able to provide a customised intervention plan to address the specific challenges your child experiences with speech, language, and social communication. 

1. Create a safe and supportive environment:

A safe and supportive environment can work wonders! Create an environment where your child feels comfortable expressing themselves, even if they struggle to get a message across or their communication style is different from the “norm”. Listen intently, be actively engaged in the conversation, and focus on what your child is trying to say – not just how they say it.

3. Celebrate strengths:

Instead of focusing solely on what your child struggles with, identify and celebrate your child’s unique strengths. By shifting the focus to what your child excels at, you can build their confidence and sense of self-worth.

To enquire about our Speech Therapy Services contact us:

Phone/whatsapp: 0739418053

Email: megan.auby@hotmail.co.za 

Pearl Donzwa

Speech-Language Therapist

References:

Brown, H. M., Stahmer, A. C., Dwyer, P., & Rivera, S. (2021). Changing the story: How diagnosticians can support a neurodiversity perspective from the start. Autism, 25(5), 1171-1174.

Den Houting, J. (2019). Neurodiversity: An insider’s perspective. Autism, 23(2), 271-273.

Rentenbach, B., Prislovsky, L., & Gabriel, R. (2017). Valuing differences: Neurodiversity in the classroom. Phi Delta Kappan, 98(8), 59-63.