Autism or autism spectrum disorder is a set of conditions that develop due to neurological or developmental disorders. It affects how the person interacts, behaves, communicates, and learns in several ways, thereby making them different from others.
A child with autism faces development delays in three major domains namely- behavioral, learning, and social interactions.
When it comes to speech development, autism being a neurodevelopmental disorder leads to qualitative impairment in communication. The age of 3 years is very important as both language development and the signs of autism start appeasing at this age.
Common speech differences observed in autistic children are-
Speech delay- most often autistic children are nonverbal at the time of diagnosis, they also avoid eye contact, have a black expression, and don't respond to their name.
Cluttered speech- a child with autism often faced difficulty with fluency that is flow, speed, and rhythm of language. Making it difficult for others to understand them.
Monotonous speech- a child with autism may unintentionally use flat speech. And they may sound robotic and emotionless.
Echolalia - it is the repetition of phrases or sounds a child has heard. A child can repeat phrases to soothe themselves or as a means to communicate.
Pronoun reversal- is when a child uses 'you' instead of 'I'. It can seem like the child has difficulty in differentiating themselves from others.
Speech therapy is essential for an autistic child to overcome all these speech differences. Even when an autistic child is nonverbal, learning how to communicate can be very helpful for them to lead a socially productive life ahead.
Sounderic provides online speech therapy sessions for children with various communication disorders. We would love to help you. Get in touch with us on WhatsApp at +919644466635 or schedule a consultation with us at https://www.sounderic.com/service-page/speech-language-consultation-for-kids?referral=service_list_widget
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Read more- Autism and what you need to know!
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