Autism Therapy: American Sign Language (ASL)

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention may likely result in only modest speech gains in children with autism.

This review article covers the effects of AAC intervention on speech in children with autism. None of the studies reviewed showed a decline in speech. Most studies showed some gains in speech for most children. In some cases (two studies) some of the children did not gain any speech with the use of AAC therapy. The speech skills that the children had before starting AAC therapy seemed to predict the increase of speech skills that would be seen with the use of AAC therapy. The authors suggest that families be told what to expect with the use of AAC.