 | Gentry White is the owner and lead therapist for Southeast Kansas Speech Pathology Services in Pittsburg Kansas. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1998 and her Master of Arts in Audiology and Speech Sciences degree from Michigan State University in 2001. She has been practicing Speech-Language Pathology in southeast Kansas since moving to Pittsburg in 2001. Gentry resides in the Pittsburg area with her husband and children. She can be contacted through her website www.sekspeech.com or her office phone at 620-232-2990. |
Health & Rehabilitation
2012-04-19 16:44:44
Speech pathology and autism
Q: How does Speech-Language Pathology fit into the treatment of a child with Autism?
A: Autism rates are on the rise in the U.S. It appears that no matter who we talk to this diagnosis impacts someone we love and care about. It could be a child, a grandchild, a school mate or a friend. Autism is a language processing disorder in which social skills are directly affected during communication. The majority of the children that are diagnosed with Autism are diagnosed prior to five years of age. There are several areas within the realm of speech and language that might be an indicator of Autism.
In no way does this mean that your child has Autism but he/she may demonstrate one or all of the following behaviors:
1. Limited or absent cooing/babbling during the first 24 months of age
2. Limited gestures to make his/her needs and wants met during the first 12 months of age
3. Reduction or absence in two-word phrases by 24 months of age
4. A sudden speech/language loss at any age in development
5. Unusual behaviors or sounds that are repeated over and over throughout the day
A Speech-Language Pathologist is a person who specializes in the treatment of language disorders. Autism impacts the child’s language processing and interpreting skills that are utilized to formulate letter sounds, blending sounds into words, and forming statements about objects and directing conversation to others. A skilled therapist can assist in working with the child as well as the caregivers to make the link in communication and “break-through” the barrier that is inhibiting the child from making connections and interacting with his/her peers as well as caregivers. Early intervention is the key to getting a head-start on treating the child’s symptoms, as every child is different and unique in his/her own special ways.
