Speech Therapy for Autism

Signs your child may need this therapy

• Limited response to their name
• Little pointing, showing or shared attention
• Echoing phrases from videos rather than using original speech
• Difficulty with back-and-forth conversation
• Very literal understanding of language
• Regression in words after 15–24 months

Benefits of Speech Therapy for Autism

• Functional requesting and refusing
• Improved joint attention and imitation
• Meaningful use of language over scripting
• Reduced frustration-driven behaviour
• Skills for classroom and peer interaction
• Confident, well-trained parents

Treatment process

1. STEP 1

   Speech and language assessment

   A 60-minute evaluation of receptive language, expressive language, articulation, oral-motor structures, fluency, voice and social communication, with parent interview and play observation.

2. STEP 2

   Diagnosis and goal setting

   We explain exactly where your child sits against age expectations and agree on functional communication goals — first words, two-word phrases, clearer /s/ and /r/, smoother speech.

3. STEP 3

   Customised therapy plan

   Approaches are matched to the child: Hanen-style parent coaching for toddlers, minimal pairs or cycles for articulation, PECS or AAC where speech is not yet functional.

4. STEP 4

   Weekly sessions

   45-minute one-to-one sessions, 2–3 times per week for early intervention, in a distraction-controlled therapy room with live modelling for parents.

5. STEP 5

   Parent training and home practice

   You receive weekly home activities that fit into daily routines — bath time, mealtimes, the drive to school — because 15 focused minutes a day outperforms an hour once a week.

6. STEP 6

   Progress monitoring

   Word counts, intelligibility ratings and language sample analysis are re-measured monthly, with a written progress report every quarter.