Autism

Speech Pathology and Autism

There is a saying that if you’ve met one child on the Autism spectrum then you’ve met only one person on the Autism spectrum. This is because Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that everyone is different and unique.

At Early Start Speech Pathology we work with your or your child’s unique strengths and interests to achieve your goals.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition that affects a person’s social understanding, communication and behaviour. The disorder is a spectrum disorder. Which means, how people present with ASD- varies.

Children may have minimal verbal output and need to learn to communicate in different ways such as signing or with a communication device. Children may only have difficulty with social awareness or understanding. The terms “mild” or “severe” are no longer being used in current research as children that were considered “mild” in presentation may still have significant challenges. The current diagnosis categorisation is Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3.

Early Start Speech Pathology Autism
What does Early Start Speech Pathology offer for children with ASD?

Early Start uses evidenced-based approaches when working with children with ASD, as well as taking from what we know about your child or teen to ensure outcomes. All our therapists are highly trained and experienced in working with children with ASD and their families.

Early Start Speech pathologists undertake extensive training in different approaches. Not one therapy approach will suit all children with Autism. Early Start’s favourite tools of choice include; Hanen & Floortime DIR methodologies to help develop play skills and the parent/child connection. But, we are also trained in other approaches such as the Early Start Denver Model and PECS systems. We use Keyword signing and visuals in all our sessions to help support and facilitate whole modal communication. Our therapists are trained in Social Thinking and PEERS concepts to assist with social skills support and we run several groups throughout the year targeting social skill development with like-minded peers that are always a sell out and the children ask when the next groups are running.

Our therapists are also trained in implementing high and low tech communication devices to help those of our clients who are non-verbal or minimally verbal communicators to get their message across.