March 2004
Education Homeroom
Kankakee Area Speech, Language and Hearing Association
Welcome!
If you enjoy learning new ideas, strategies and therapy techniques, then you have come to the right place. 
References and Related Links
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The Key to
Autism
Early diagnosis & Intervntion
Autism-PDD Resources Network
KASHA
Hardin MD and speech links
Home
Speech-Language Pathology Websites
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    Children with autism can have sensory disturbances, food allergies, gastro-intestinal problems, depression, obsessive compulsiveness, epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and extreme anxiety.  Most have language delays. (Nash, J.M (2003) ADVANCE Nov. 10, 2003)  In addition, autism is known to run in families, is more prevalent in boys, and there is a wide severity continuum among autism spectrum disorders.  Some individuals can talk, while others are non-verbal.  Some have above-average intelligence, while others may begin to develop normally but then regress.
     The most important key is the early diagnosis of this disorder.  Currently the typical age of identification is around five or six, however the optimal age of diagnosis would be around age two. (Azar, B. (1998) ADVANCE Nov. 10, 2003)  The Yale Child Study Clinic recommends that a core team conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation.  Members should include a pediatrician, a psychiatrist/psychologist, a social worker, a special education teacher, caregivers, a speech-language pathologist, and occupational and physical therapists. (ADVANCE Nov. 10, 2003)
     After children begin to receive services to address their weaknesses, it is important for the team to continually monitor their progress and to evaluate their treatment.
For more information on Autism contact:

Autism Society of America, online:
www.autismsociety.org
Center for the Study of Autism, online:
www.autism.org

 Autism Camps
Social Stories
as a Tool
    Adults and children with autism and pervasive developmental disorders often have difficulty with social language.  Their weaknesses lie in their ability to read, interpret, and respond effectively to the world around them. Social stories can help to address this social confusion by requiring caregivers and professionals to first stop and consider a situation from the perspective of the child or adult, and secondly, to identify and share information that may be missing.
     In addition, these individuals need to be taught how to utilize facial expressions, body language and the prosodic features of a person's voice when attempting to interpret their communicative partner's meaning. 
     "The New Social Story Book," written by Carol Gray, can be a helpful tool when considering the use of social stories with your student or client.  It contains prewritten stories to address a variety of situations.  There is also a final chapter that provides you with information on creating your own stories and how to implement them.  More information can be found at Future Horizons Inc.  www.FutureHorizons-autism.com
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