The benefits of speech therapy extend far beyond the speech itself
Speech therapy can be beneficial for children with autism. It not only improves their communication skills, but speech therapy also boosts confidence and social skills for young children with autism. Since autism is such a wide spectrum, different people face different issues in a variety of ways. Speech therapy can be used in a variety of ways to address these issues. The benefits of speech therapy extend far beyond the speech itself. Here are some of the benefits of speech therapy for children with autism.
Improves Interpersonal Communication
Speech is an essential part of forming relationships and socializing with others. It allows us to make friends, form ideas, find hobbies, and much more. Speech therapy can improve interpersonal relationships and facilitate more communication. Interpersonal communication includes eye contact, turn-taking during a conversation, and staying on topic. It also involves emotional and self-regulation, such as understanding the other person’s point of view in a conversation.
Helps Children Understand Social Cues
A lot of communication is nonverbal and is based on social cues that we all learn when we are young. However, some kids with autism have difficulty picking up on social cues in conversations. Issues involving social cues can be minor, such as knowing the right time to say “Good morning.” On the other hand, they could be larger issues like knowing what topics of conversation are appropriate, noticing when someone is uncomfortable or trying to be friendly, and learning how to act with a stranger versus a friend.
Improves Speech and Articulation
Speech therapy is also very beneficial in strengthening your child’s facial muscles to help them form sounds properly. This can help with articulation and fluency, as well as the quality and volume of their speech. With a better grasp of articulation, children can pronounce their words clearly, and others can understand them.
Teaches Emotional Regulation
One benefit of speech therapy you may not consider is it is incredibly helpful in teaching children with autism to regulate their emotions. Emotional regulation allows one to remain calm when stressed, anxious, annoyed, or frustrated. Having poor emotional regulation may lead to overreacting, increased negative emotions, and emotional outbursts. When children learn how to regulate their emotions, they may have an easier time socializing with others and initiating conversations. A speech therapist may use books, toys, games, and other activities to enhance language development and processing.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (301) 577-4333. Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest.