Autism Learning Facility Teaches ASD Children to Speak

(Newswire.net — May 25, 2015) Gladesville, NSW — Every single day a person could meet someone on the autism spectrum without even knowing it. While most people think that every person with autism is exactly the same, the truth is every person on the spectrum is completely different. Many of those on the spectrum are exceptional in visual skills, music, and academia. While 25% of individuals on the spectrum are nonverbal and communicate through alternate means, 40% of the individuals have average to above average intelligence. Everyone on the spectrum comes in all shapes and sizes.

According to Autismspeaks.org, autism is a complex of general disorders in the brain, characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. The disorder itself has roots in early brain development, but doesn’t show signs and symptoms until the child is between the ages of two and three-years-old. Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 68 American children as on the autism spectrum, with an estimated 1 out of 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls diagnosed with autism in the United States.

It is a part of our mission to “educate the wider community on autism, special needs, inclusion and evidence based intervention,” stated Karen Wong, co-creator of The Learning Clinic, a center for providing one-to-one behavioral intervention and treatment and therapy for those with autism and with autism related disorders. The Learning Clinic strives to “deliver treatment respectfully; focusing on building strong, trusting relationships and creating fun learning environments.”

“Speech and Language are often primary areas of concerns when we first meet a family with a child with autism, it is one of the core areas of the TLC curriculum and often the first area we build prerequisite skills for when we design an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) program and remains a large focus throughout the duration of the program,” said Wong.

The Learning Clinic focuses on speech and language because communication is one of the things that people on the autism spectrum struggle with most. The program at The Learning Clinic focuses on the progression of language acquisition, focusing on the teaching speech and language that is functional in everyday life. The curriculum uses imitating sounds and builds upon that to teach how to ask for highly preferred items and activities. The team of therapists and psychologists work to continuously build upon the verbal skills of their clients. “When I learnt that recovery from Autism was possible, I knew that we had to give T that chance.  In 1 year and 4 months our son has gone from a vocabulary of 5 words to using 6 word sentences.” The program’s success comes from the clear support that the team of staff provides for its clients. Without their help, they would not be able to make the strides in communication that they have.

 

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