“Can speech therapy help with autism?”

Question

Speech-Language Pathologist Questions Speech Therapy

“Can speech therapy help with autism?”

My daughter has autism and is still non-verbal. She's six years old, and we continuously try to have her speak but nothing is working. Can speech therapy help her?

16 Answers

Autism: Therapy For Parents with Autistic Children

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**Serena Mueller** Speech-Language Pathologist Park City, UT · Accepted Answer

Serena Mueller Speech-Language Pathologist Park City, UT

Yes, speech therapy can definitely help. I would recommend seeking an evaluation by an SLP.

**Amelia Sterner** Speech-Language Pathologist Cridersville, OH · Accepted Answer

Amelia Sterner Speech-Language Pathologist Cridersville, OH

Speech therapy can help establish a communication device to help her communicate with others. Please seek out a local speech language pathologist that specializes in AAC devices.

**Genevieve Richardson** Speech-Language Pathologist Austin, TX · Accepted Answer

Genevieve Richardson Speech-Language Pathologist Austin, TX

Yes, speech therapy can help her. I would have you consider finding a speech pathologist specializing in autism so that you maximize progress. Finding a specialist is key.

**Susan Smith** Speech-Language Pathologist Scottsdale, AZ · Accepted Answer

Speech therapy can indeed help, but you may need to change your expectations about how she communicates. I would recommend starting with your school district to have a comprehensive evaluation, which may include as assessment of her ability to use augmentative communication, which can help with both language development and the acquisition of speech production. I hope this helps!

**Colleen Tierney** Speech-Language Pathologist Westwood, NEW JERSEY · Accepted Answer

Colleen Tierney Speech-Language Pathologist Westwood, NEW JERSEY

Absolutely! Most of my patients are autistic and I help them communicate by helping with speech, through methods such as PROMPT, and also help with augmentative communication, such as a speech generating device.

**Kimberly Baradei** Speech-Language Pathologist · Accepted Answer

Kimberly Baradei Speech-Language Pathologist

Hi, Thanks for reaching out! Yes! Speech Therapy can definitely help her with communication. If she's in the public school system, she should be eligible for free services within the school. Outpatient or in-home therapy may also be available to you. Best of luck!

**Tami El Habachi** Speech-Language Pathologist McKinney, TX · Accepted Answer

Individuals with autism typically struggle with receptive, expressive and social language. Speech Pathologist specialize in communication disorder to which receptive, expressive and social language falls under this category. With your child being six, being non-verbal, your child likely will need additional help to speak even in small phrases or use an AAC (alternative augmentative communication system) such as PECs (no tech) or a computer system designed for communication purposes (tech device). This person would be a speech-language pathologist. There is some confusion regarding ABA therapy if your child is receiving this. Their primary purpose is not communication, and I would not rely on this type of therapy to address your child's communication needs.

**Adrienne Bagwell** Speech-Language Pathologist Monticello, AR · Accepted Answer

Adrienne Bagwell Speech-Language Pathologist Monticello, AR

Speech therapy would be an excellent tool to teach communication
strategies. Just keep in mind that communication comes in various forms and
is not always verbal.

**Darrell Lauer** Speech-Language Pathologist New York, NY · Accepted Answer

Darrell Lauer Speech-Language Pathologist New York, NY

Speech therapy by a certified speech pathologist can help. Of course some of it depends on the severity of the autism

**Mrs. Kausar Zafar** Speech-Language Pathologist Katy, TX · Accepted Answer

Mrs. Kausar Zafar Speech-Language Pathologist Katy, TX

Yes it can. Some children with Autism stay non verbal. They can be trained on communication devices. Some can be trained to talk. Usually their speech stays monotone and pragmatically different. But they can talk.

**Miss Yashara Lynch** Speech-Language Pathologist Spartanburg, SC · Accepted Answer

Miss Yashara Lynch Speech-Language Pathologist Spartanburg, SC

Hello.

Definitely! A big component to autism is communication. Speech therapy would help a great deal. Contact the primary physician to get a referral for speech therapy.

**Yanetsy Pena** Speech-Language Pathologist MIAMI, FL · Accepted Answer

Yanetsy Pena Speech-Language Pathologist MIAMI, FL

Yes, definitely! Contact your pediatrician, express your concerns, and request a prescription for a Speech and Language evaluation.

**YADIRA MEDINA** Speech-Language Pathologist Spring Branch, TX · Accepted Answer

YADIRA MEDINA Speech-Language Pathologist Spring Branch, TX

Hello,
Speech therapy is one of many services that will help a child with autism. Speech therapy can assist in finding ways to help your child communicate either through verbal communication, or through the use of a device to assist, or via a picture symbol system to aid in expressing wants and needs.

**Camille Cappelen** Speech-Language Pathologist Vero Beach, FL · Accepted Answer

Camille Cappelen Speech-Language Pathologist Vero Beach, FL

Yes very much so. Children with autism benefit from speech-language therapy to target their verbal language, listening comprehension, and social skills. Research speech therapists in your area to make an appointment and talk to your daughter's school about receiving therapy at school.

**Danahe Joselyn Yance** Speech-Language Pathologist Hialeah, FL · Accepted Answer

A speech language pathologist can assess and find means to improve her communication skills. Assessment is the first step to take in order to develop an appropriate plan of care, or develop a system that would work best for her. Depending on evaluation findings, a therapist may recommend further hearing testing, they may also refer to other specialists. The
therapist may work on eliciting speech, while using other forms of communication. He/She may recommend the use of signs/gestures, picture exchange system, or some other type of alternative augmentative communication device which they will help you select to match her level of function.

**Terlenda Lassiter** Speech-Language Pathologist · Accepted Answer

Terlenda Lassiter Speech-Language Pathologist

Yes, alternative ways of communicating and enhancing social interaction is a component of our scope. Your daughter should definitely get involved with a speech pathologist who works with children who have autism.