What is Autism?

Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder that affects children’s social, communication, and behavioural development. Autism begins in the early years of childhood and will last throughout a person’s life. What causes Autism is still not known, and researchers believe that genes and a child’s environment play a major role. Children with Autism have many challenges in their day-to-day life, starting from clearly expressing their needs to a conversation with another person. However, there is no proven medical treatment for Autism, but there are a number of evidence-based training methods to improve the child’s skills to participate actively in society. If a child gets involved in these training programs early, the progress will be better.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Not every child with Autism is alike. Some children show mild symptoms and some show severe autistic symptoms. Children start showing these symptoms as early as 18 months or sometimes earlier than that. The below list provides some commonly seen symptoms of a child with autism.

• Not showing interest in what is happening around them.
• Does not look at the other person’s eyes directly and tries to avoid eye contact.
• Prefers to be alone.
• Have trouble in playing toys appropriately or using objects correctly.
• Does not seem to listen when spoken.
• Restricted interest in people and toys.
• Have challenges in using gestures, words, facial expressions to communicate needs, wants, and desires.
• Unable to follow what another person is saying.
• Difficulties in identifying social cues during the conversation.
• Talk a few words or not talk at all
• Might repeat what others say.
• Use tantrums or any other behaviors to express instead of talking.
• Have trouble participating in play activities with another.
• Get upset when the routine is changed.
• More interest in playing with parts of objects. (eg. Wheels)

These are not only symptoms of autism and not very child shows all of these.

How is Autism diagnosed?

A team of professionals diagnoses autism. Sometimes they work together, and sometimes they test separately in their respective areas to provide information to reach a final diagnosis. The team might include paediatricians, child-psychiatrist, neurologist, developmental psychologist/behavioural therapist, speech-language pathologist, physical therapist/occupational therapist, and sometimes audiologist to test the child’s hearing.

Speech-language pathologists/therapists assess a child’s speech, language, and communication skills. They will talk to parents, caregivers, teachers, and observe the child in clinical and natural settings to gather information about speech-language development. They identify the communication strengths and need to plan out the communication intervention.

How does the speech-language pathologist work with a child with autism?

Speech-Language Pathologist/therapist work closely with parents, family, and teachers to facilitate communication in the home, school, and community. A number of evidence-based strategies and techniques are used to improve speech, language, and, social communication skills. Some of the skills speech pathologists work on include;

• Listening and attending to others in different settings.
• Taking turns, especially in conversation.
• Expanding interests like playing with toys, trying out different food.
• Understanding what others are saying and responding to them appropriately.
• Improving vocalization, imitating sounds and words, new vocabulary, grammatically correct sentences, clarity of speech, etc.
• Interacting with peers
• Use language appropriately to answer questions, initiate conversation, maintain a conversation, tell a story, etc.
• Improve knowledge of speech sounds to help in reading and writing skills.

Speech-Language pathologists also work with non-verbal and minimally verbal children to facilitate and augment their communication using alternative methods (AAC) such as Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), picture charts and boards etc.

If you are concerned that your child might have Autism, do not delay to discuss it with your child’s doctor. If you are unsure what to do, call us and we will guide you through the process.