Speech and Language Therapy and Autism Ranking:

Aims and Claims

Aims

According to NHS England (201?),

“Speech and language therapists provide life-changing treatment, support and care for children and adults who have difficulties with communication, or with eating, drinking and swallowing.”

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (201?),

“The goal of intervention [for individuals on the autism spectrum] is to improve social communication and other language impairments and modify behaviors to improve an individual's quality of life and increase social acceptance. Essential outcomes focus on improvements in social communication that affect the individual's ability to develop relationships, function effectively, and actively participate in everyday life.”

Claims

There have been various claims made for speech and language therapy as an intervention for autistic people.  For example, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (201?),an SLP [speech and language pathologist]

“... will help your child understand, talk, read, and write. SLPs work with children on social skills too. They also work with children who don't talk at all. “

“An SLP may help your child:develop joint attention;play and get along with others;understand and use gestures to communicate;follow directions.

“An SLP will help your child understand and use words. Your child may learn toask and answer questions;ask for help;take turns in a conversation;start or stop a conversation.

“SLPs also work on reading and writing. Your child may learn tolook at books and tell stories;write letters, words, and sentences.”

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Dec 2016

Next Review

01 Jun 2023