When your child was diagnosed with autism, the doctor most likely recommended enrolling your child in ABA and speech therapy. This is because many children with autism have trouble communicating or socializing with those around them. In this article, we’re going to highlight the benefits of speech therapy for children with autism.

Why Is Speech Therapy Necessary?

Speech therapy is one of the most effective ways to help children with autism improve their communication and social skills. Starting these therapies as early as possible will positively impact their progress. Speech therapy will help children with ASD who:

• May be non-verbal
• Only speak in a sing-song voice
• May produce stiff speech
• Communicate through grunts
• Has trouble understanding phrases or social cues

Refines Social Skills

It’s our goal to refine your child’s social and communication skills through multiple therapies. A speech therapist will help build social communication skills like asking and answering questions, understanding social cues, and being aware of someone’s “mood” or “reading the room.” This will aid your child in future scenarios at school and help them build confidence.

Improves Conversational Skills

Knowing how to converse and make statements are two different things. A speech therapist will help your child improve their conversational skills by working on back-and-forth exchanges. We will do this by talking about their interests and prying for more information, encouraging the conversation to go on.

Expands Non-Verbal Communication

Verbal communication can be tough for some children with ASD. Fortunately, there are other ways to communicate. Teaching your child gestural communication, ASL, or utilizing electronic talking devices and other tools will greatly benefit them in the present and future. This will help them feel heard and included in the conversation.

Helps Communicate Their Needs

Another benefit speech therapy gives children with autism is understanding language better. Sometimes, children with ASD have trouble sensing if someone’s joking or being serious based on words along. They also need more indicators for private or open conversations. A speech therapist will help your child notice and understand social cues and subtle signals in speech therapy. These sessions will also help your child communicate their needs more efficiently. We understand that every child is different, which is why we aim to personalize our therapy sessions to their needs.

At HANDS Center for Autism, we offer autism therapy services and support to make this journey as fulfilling and supportive as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about our services and how we can assist you and your child, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’re always looking forward to helping our brightest stars.