What Is the Use of Speech Therapy for a Non-Verbal Child?
Beginning speech therapy at an early stage is essential to autistic children. At first I did not really understand why: I thought the chief purpose of speech therapy was to help with a speech impediment – and I know I am not the only one who has wondered about its use for a child who does not speak.
Learn how to communicate
The lack of social interaction and verbal communication can be a hindrance to the autistic child’s speech development. In the case of autism, speech therapy is less about speech (generally nonexistent) than about communication. Step by step, the speech therapist will help the autistic child to expand the means he uses to communicate, by focusing on his interests.
Identify feeding disorders
Yes, that is correct. The speech therapist will be able to diagnose problems with chewing or swallowing, and determine if the child is hyper- or hypo- sensitive to taste. There are many ways to help solve the child’s feeding disorders, as
part of a care process including the family and a multidisciplinary therapeutic team.
Speech therapy should not be underestimated in the care process of non-verbal autistic children. Thanks to our speech therapist, Matthieu has started to speak outside the house, he has learned how to point, and we could understand what we had to do for him not to choke whilst drinking…
Translation: Aurélie
