Speech therapy for children with autism and rare diseases

What a speech therapist does

The speech therapist assesses and develops your child’s language: understanding speech, pronunciation, vocabulary, building sentences and using language to interact with others.

For children with autism, we put a lot of work into functional communication: your child learns to ask, choose, refuse and say how they feel. For families, this is often the biggest win.

Alternative communication (PECS) for non-verbal children

Some children don’t speak yet, or speak very little. For them, we use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), including PECS — the Picture Exchange Communication System. Your child learns that by handing over a picture, they can get what they want.

Alternative communication does not stop speech from developing. On the contrary, it gives your child a reason and a way to communicate, and it eases the frustration of not being understood.

What we work on

• understanding language and instructions;
• first words, vocabulary and sentences;
• pronouncing sounds and speaking clearly;
• functional communication: asking, choosing, answering;
• conversation and social communication skills;
• oral motor skills for speech, where needed.

How we work

After an initial assessment, the speech therapist sets goals together with you and works one-to-one with your child, in close contact with the centre’s other specialists. You receive simple exercises and communication games to use at home.