My child has been diagnosed with Autism (ASD). What now?

When your child is diagnosed with ASD, you are often bombarded with numerous recommendations from various professionals including schools, early intervention, pediatricians, teachers, therapists, as well as family members. There is a multitude of information for families to process and it can often be confusing and overwhelming. We at Speech Matters want to ensure that our families have access to information and resources that can help you navigate this process. This post is one of many designed to outline what ASD may look like and what therapy is available to your child. We want to emphasize that it is the family’s right to choose which plan words best, and no family should feel pressure from any professional to choose a specific plan.

While there are many different professionals that can help your family, no one treatment is the best option for every family. Treatment plans should reflect the speciific unique needs of your family and may include one or many forms. Please feel free to contact us to help you navigate what may be the best form of treatment for you and your family.

Types of recognized therapies for ASD:

-Speech and Language therapy -provided by Speech Language Pathologists

-Occupational therapy -provided by Occupational Therapists

-Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) -provided by Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) under supervision of Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

These therapies may be provided in various settings and can include one or more at a time: 1. Private clinic 2. Home-based/Early Intervention Program 3. Public Schools

If your child has already been diagnosed with specific speech, language, and/or occupational therapy delays (fine motor, sensory, visual motor, developmental delays, etc.) and you are currently attending speech and/or occupational therapy, we highly recommend that you continue with these services. A diagnosis of ASD does not alter your child’s already identified developmental needs. The SLP is the most qualified professional to work on commmunication skills. Occupational thearpists are the most qualified professionals to target occupational therapy needs including activities of daily living (ADLs), fine motor skills, and sensory integration.

ABA may also be appropriate and beneficial for your child, and should be considered along with current recommendations. ABA is not a replacement for specialized therapies (OT/ST) however, and is not appropriate for all children with ASD. While ABA does address communication and social skills, it should be integrated into the child’s current therapies.