While it’s true that Autism isn’t something that just “goes away,” there are numerous treatment options available that will help autistic children gain new skills, overcome a host of challenges, and gain the skills they need to live a productive life. From free government programs to in-home ABA therapy and group educational programs, help is available to address your child to specific needs and help them learn to function, grow, and flourish in life. Whether you seek an autistic adult to help in your home and in your work, or you prefer to work with a residential provider that works one on one with your autistic child, there is an autism treatment program that is right for you.
In the most basic sense, speech and language therapists provide diagnostic and therapeutic services. However, some speech-language pathologists work directly with autistic individuals themselves, helping them to learn how to speak and perform on a range of daily activities. Many people are surprised to find that some of the most highly successful business leaders and most influential scientists in the world were once diagnosed with Autism or Asperger’s syndrome. There are also a great many of doctors, educators, counselors, and parents who have discovered that the one thing that has allowed their lives to become more peaceful and balanced is speech therapy. If you’re looking for someone to help you lead a happier, calmer life, then speech-language pathologists may be the right choice for you.
Some of the most respected centers for this type of autism treatment are located at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Dr. Peter Pereira was awarded the Nobel Prize for his studies of the biological foundation of autism. Dr. Mark Zoloft is a practicing psychiatrist and psychologist who have spent a large amount of time studying Aspergers and related disorders. Dr. William Pelham is currently a practicing psychiatrist at the University of Chicago. The Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders at the University of Florida is another prominent center. Other centers and research facilities include those run by the Wellcome Trust, a UK charity.
There are two main types of autism intervention and treatments. The first is called inpatient care where patients stay in a specialised unit where they receive intensive support and guidance from specialists. The other main style of intervention is known as out-patient care where autistic patients are sent home to their own homes or other supported environments. Autism caregivers are the most common types of support in out-patient settings. The support provided can be as extensive as several weeks at a time or just a few days at a time.
One of the key goals of working with autistic children is to teach them to understand speech sounds and to learn to communicate with others using these sounds. This process is known as speech development. A person with mild autism may be able to learn simple words such as cow or dog using spoken speech sounds, but people with severe autism will have a much more difficult time with this task. A good starting point for speech development is music therapy, which teaches people to recognise and reproduce the sounds of speech using a musical instrument. For people with less severe forms of autism, music therapy can teach them basic body language and general nonverbal communication skills, such as eye contact.
Speech therapy for Autism is sometimes used in conjunction with other techniques and treatments for autism. It can help improve a child’s social communication and improve their self-esteem. It can also help improve a child’s understanding of speech sounds and improve their ability to communicate effectively using this language. It can also help improve and develop their social skills, which is especially important if they are suffering from autism spectrum disorder.