Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Scout the Dog Helps Kids with Language Delays Learn to Communicate

scottie — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:53:03 +0000

Teaser:

Scout and his owner, a speech/language pathologist, come to the Jefferson School to work with preschoolers who have communication difficulties.

Body:

Scout and his owner, a speech/language pathologist, come to the Jefferson School to work with preschoolers who have communication difficulties. Nancy Jo Connell brings the specially trained Labrador to the Missoula County public school once a week. Scout has been trained to respond to the correct pronunciation of words as well as to correct sign language. If Scout does not respond to the child’s voice or sign, then a teacher or therapist encourages the child with, “Oh, he doesn't understand you,” and the child can try again. Connell would like to see animal-assisted therapy in all types of classrooms.

Read original article: Scout the Lab Helps Children with Speech Difficulties, Special Needs

Typing Helps a Boy with Autism Communicate

scottie — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Jamie Ponsoby, now 13, was diagnosed with autism at 2 and a half.

Body:

Jamie Ponsoby, now 13, was diagnosed with autism at 2 and a half. His speech gradually disappeared and he had difficulty with sign language. His mom read about a person who found it easier to communicate by typing rather than talking and decided to teach Jamie to type. Now being able to communicate, Jamie has proven to his family that he is aware, has a sense of humor, above-average emotional skills, and has a gift for poetry. Here is an extract from his first poem:

Do you know the real world of autism

Do you know how it feels to be autistic

Do you know what it means to be autistic

Go to my world, you will see

Go to my world, you will know

Go to my world, you will hear

Go to my world, you will feel it

Go to my world, you will detect

Go to my world, you will find out

Go to my world, you will discover

Read original article: Typing is Helping a Boy with Autism Communicate

Speech Acquisition in Older Nonverbal Individuals with Autism: A Review of Features, Methods, and Prognosis

scottie — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:54:28 +0000

Title	Speech Acquisition in Older Nonverbal Individuals with Autism: A Review of Features, Methods, and Prognosis
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Pickett E, Pullara O, OGrady J, Gordon B
Journal Title	Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	22
Issue	1
Pages	1-21
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19372766?ordinalpos=96&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Full Text	Older nonverbal children with autism may still learn to speak using speech therapy. Some professionals thought that if children did not speak by age 5, then they would not be able to speak. The authors of this article looked up studies of speech therapy in older children. They wanted to figure out whether children may start speaking after 5 years old. Some children spoke their first words between 5 and 13 years old. There were no reports of anyone older than 13 years starting to speak. In the 5-13 year old age group, it was relatively rare for children to start speaking. For example, out of 183 nonverbal children in two studies, 11 spoke their first words between 5-13 years of age. Speech therapy was helpful for some children, and worked after other therapy options did not work. Behavioral therapy (ABA) techniques (reinforcement, shaping, fading), sign language use, special education programs, and computer-assisted learning were also helpful.

Speech Pathologists Help Students with Oral Motor Skills

scottie — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:49:32 +0000

Teaser:

Speech pathologists in Douglas County Oregon, say that speech pathology and speech therapy is much more than just articulation.

Body:

Speech pathologists in Douglas County Oregon, say that speech pathology and speech therapy is much more than just articulation. As they work with children with autism and other developmental delays, the speech pathologists stress communication as the most important goal. Interventions include oral motor exercises, sign language, augmentative tools (AAC), and picture symbols (PECS). One of the therapists summed up the district-wide speech program: "All these kids just want to fit in....And that's what we do. We give them the words, the language, the skills to do that."

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AAC Interventions for Autism: A Research Summary

scottie — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:14:45 +0000

Title	AAC Interventions for Autism: A Research Summary
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Nunes DRP
Journal Title	International Journal for Autism: A Research Summary
Year of Publication	2008
Volume	23
Issue	2
Pages	17-26
URL for Abstract	http://www.internationalsped.com/documents/3%20Nunes%20Autism.doc
Full Text	Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) such as sign language, picture exchange communication system (PECS), and speech generating devices may be able to help people with autism to communicate. This review article describes the types of AAC that are used to treat autism. The authors reviewed 56 studies published over 27 years. Most of the studies were case studies and looked at spoken language. The authors were not able to conclude whether or not one form of AAC is better than another form of AAC for people with autism. The authors were pleased to note that their review has shown that people have stopped viewing language as the same as speech.

Reach for the Stars Teaches Sign Language to all the Children they Serve

scottie — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:13:07 +0000

Teaser:

Reach for the Stars cares for children of all abilities including those with autism.

Body:

Reach for the Stars cares for children of all abilities including those with autism. Kymberli Bush, a disability nurse, created a daycare in Georgia where special needs children could grow along side their peers. All the children are taught American Sign Language (ASL) so that they can communicate regardless of the level of their developmental delay. Kimberli's mission is simple, "Our daycare children are growing together and are taught special needs children are just like us, they just need an extra hand once in a while."

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Day Care Center Caters to Children with Autism and Other Disabilities

scottie — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:12:38 +0000

Teaser:

The Twinkling Eye Day Care Center in Virginia caters specifically to children with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Body:

The Twinkling Eye Day Care Center in Virginia caters specifically to children with autism and other developmental disabilities. The center, which opened a year ago, specializes in interventions that include: fine motor skills, gross motor skills, speech therapy, literacy training, sign language, and toilet training. Twinkling Eye has full week-day hours as well as special weekend hours. There are currently 29 children enrolled working with 8 full time staff members.

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Toilet Training Children with Autism

scottie — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:11:47 +0000

Teaser:

Toilet training any child can be daunting, but autism and other developmental disabilities may make this job even harder.

Body:

Toilet training any child can be daunting, but autism and other developmental disabilities may make this job even harder. The authors of Toilet Training in Less Than a Day use the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) to encourage and reward children. Toilet training may start with teaching the child sign language to indicate he needs to use the bathroom and can include wearing regular pants instead of diapers or pullups. Regardless of the time it takes, once children are toilet trained, they may sense increased independence and self-esteem. If they can be successful in this area, the potential is there for success in the classroom and in the community.

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Effects of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on Speech Production in Children with Autism: A Systematic Review

scottie — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:44:20 +0000

Title	Effects of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on Speech Production in Children with Autism: A Systematic Review
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Schlosser RW, Wendt O
Journal Title	American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
Year of Publication	2008
Volume	17
Issue	3
Pages	212-230
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18663107?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Full Text	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.

Lighthouse School for Autism in Australia Provides ABA Intervention

scottie — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:33:50 +0000

Teaser:

An Australian school teacher will establish the Lighthouse School for Autism because he sees the need for applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for his son and other children with autism.

Body:

An Australian school teacher will establish the Lighthouse School for Autism because he sees the need for applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for his son and other children with autism. ABA therapy utilizes sign language and the picture exchange communication system (PECS) to increase children's communication and social interaction skills. Daniel Kettels also sees a need for organizations to train parents and therapists in ABA methods.

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