Is Your Child Autistic?
Our Expert Speech & Language Therapists Provide Evidence Based, Quality Therapy to Support Autistic Children
Some Facts About Autism
There are approximately 700,000 people in the UK who are Autistic – more than 1 in 100.
Autism is ‘hidden’– you often can't tell that someone is autistic just by looking at them.
Many commonly used diagnostic assessments for autism have greater validity for boys than for girls and other genders. This can contribute to autistic boys typically receiving diagnoses earlier than autistic people of other genders.
There is no cure for autism, nor do we believe that Autism is an issue that needs to be ‘cured’. We believe Autism should be seen as a difference, not a deficit.
Autism is a spectrum condition, which means that Autistic people can have varying support needs. Some people may have high support needs, meaning they require consistent support and care. Others may have lower support needs and will lead independent lives. Autistic people may have differing support needs across different areas, and find that their support needs can change over time.
Autistic people do not need therapy simply for being Autistic. However, some Autistic people will benefit from therapies to support them with specific challenges they may face. For example, a Speech and Language therapist may help a non-speaking person to develop form/s of communication that work best for them
Autistic children and their families are at risk of mental health issues if they do not get the support and understanding they need to be able to navigate and thrive in a ‘Neurotypical’ world.
Key:
Allistic = describes someone who is not autistic
Neurotypical = describes someone who thinks and processes information in ways that are typical within their culture
Neurodivergent = describes someone who thinks and processes information in ways that are not considered typical within their culture. Diagnoses of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and many more all come under the umbrella of neurodivergence.
Neurodiverse = describes diversity in neurotypes. For example, a group of autistic, allistic, and ADHD people may be described as ‘neurodiverse’. One person cannot be described as neurodiverse, but two or more people with different neurotypes together could be
Neurotype: describes a type or category of brain
Masking: describes a behavioural modification or technique used to disguise or suppress autistic characteristics
Autistic Children and Communication Skills
Here are some of the ways that good speech and language therapy can help Autistic children and their families:
· Expanding the child’s attention and listening skills, and helping others around them to understand what their ‘best attention’ looks like
· Developing their play skills in ways that suit them, and supporting others to tune in to the child’s play style/s
· Providing advice and guidance on how to facilitate meaningful interactions for the autistic child in ways that suit them
· Improving the communicative environment for the child and adapting activities to be intrinsically motivating
· Increasing children’s understanding of their own communication style and preferences
· Educating the child and those around the child (including peers) of typical differences in social communication styles between autistic and allistic people
· Supporting the child’s family and important others to understand and tune in to their communication
· Developing the child’s understanding of language
· Helping children understand the world around them, including routines at home and at school
· Working on expressive communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal
· Assisting children and families to use communication aids and devices / AAC.
· Supporting the child to understand their own neurotype and identity, and explore what being autistic means to them
· Supporting to child to advocate for their needs and preferences across different environments
· Developing the child’s emotional literacy skills and emotional regulation using approaches such as the Zones of Regulation and energy regulation (Autism LevelUP!)
How Our Speech and Language Therapy Can Help Autistic Children
We assess each child’s needs holistically and design our treatment plans around the unique needs of each child. At the centre of everything we do are the goals, aspirations and expectations of the child and their family.
Here are some of the many evidence-based therapy approaches and frameworks we are specially trained to use to help Autistic children develop their communication skills:
· Symbols to support understanding, including visual timetables
· Picture or object based communication systems
· Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCAs)
· Zones of Regulation
· Intensive Interaction
· SCERTS
· Autism LevelUP! approaches
· Social stories
· Comic strip conversations
· Talking Mats
· Konfident Kidz social programmes
. Makaton
. Elklan approaches
It is vital that the approach or framework is used in a neurodiversity affirming way. For example, social stories may be used to teach a child about an upcoming change, but should never be used to try and modify autistic behaviour or increase masking behaviours.
Magic Words do not support the use of any approaches that aim to inhibit or reduce autistic characteristics such as some traditional ‘social skills’ programmes.
How can we help you and your child?
If you are interested in how our expert speech and language therapy can help your Autistic child, click below to request a free telephone consultation with one of our therapists or to book an initial assessment appointment. We will assess your child’s strengths and needs and design a therapy package to suit your child’s unique learning style, and your budget. We can also support children and young people in the over one hundred schools that commission our schools speech and language therapy service.
