Why Is Speech Therapy Beneficial for Children with Autism?

Our success, both within our personal lives and in the professional realm, is often dictated by how we can communicate with those around us. After all, so much of our time is dedicated to social interaction and interpersonal relationships, even during the pandemic when most interactions occurred behind the screen.

However, for children with autism and related disorders, developing effective communication skills is harder than it would be for the average neurotypical person. It’s estimated that 40% of people with autism are nonverbal – with many others finding verbal or face-to-face communication difficult (AutismSpeaks)

While no two people experience autism in the same way, those with autism or related disorders may face communication barriers such as:

• Difficulty developing language skills.
• Difficulty regarding comprehension or understanding what others are saying or why they might be saying it.
• Poor understanding of non-verbal communication skills, such as body language, facial expressions, or gestures.
• Inability to maintain eye contact during conversation.
• Difficulty with self-expression.

However, there are various steps you can take to help your child with autism find their voice – with one of the most effective methods being therapy services such as speech therapy.