- Admin
- 26 Jul, 2022
Speech Therapy isn�t a profession- it�s a basic and most essential education and asset for a child.
Today, I wish to share one experience with all my readers. Experience that’s not quite old in its age; something that mustn’t have happened before some 2-3 years ago.
It was a routine OPD day with routine working hours when certain parents with child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder came in to consult me. After they briefed me up with their child’s diagnosis and expressed that they were in dire need for the speech therapy, I asked them what the age of their child was. The child was 3 years old. And when had the child got diagnosed? Somewhat around 9 months back, at around 2 years, 3 months of his age.
Now, nine months after diagnosis is within itself a pretty long period. So, there went my next question: Why did you take steps to approach for speech therapy so late? Any reason why it took 9 months for you to consult a speech therapist for your baby? The explanation which the parents gave me, made me sick to my stomach. They said, “When our child got diagnosed with ASD, the doctors advised to begin with therapy required to cease his hyperactivity. The doctor advised us that with minimization of the hyperactivity, a good eye-contact gets facilitated and then the child can proceed with speech therapy. That’s why we delayed the speech therapy.
Again. And again. The same explanation fell on to my ears for like the hundredth time and to say the least, I was frustrated by that. The clear and evident message which we capture from this is that, for the matter of fact- there is an immense lack of knowledge among the clinicians and doctors about the matter and study of Speech Therapy. And hence, I bring forth to all my readers today’s article on the subject:
Discussing ‘Speech Therapy’ as an agenda and focus of prime study.
To begin with,
What are the early signs of diagnosis as Autism?
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Lack of communication
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Lack of socialization
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Presence of repetitive behaviors
The prevalence of these signs is present till some extent in all the children experiencing autism. Inferring from my total experience of 18-20 years as a speech & language therapist, I can comment with utmost surety that there exists quite a close connection between the prevalence of these signs and the child’s ‘listening’ capacity.
Let me explain now to you what is the difference between ‘listening’ and ‘hearing’,
There is a huge difference between the two phenomenon of ‘hearing’ and ‘listening’.
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Hearing is a natural process; whereas
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Listening needs to be developed; it needs to be fostered and nurtured.
Development of Listening Skills-
This is the major domain of Speech Development. Hence, development of listening skills should begin at the time of diagnosis.
Good listening skills, in turn, develop overall communication of the child.
Good listening skills, in turn, develop overall communication of the child.
Hence, an earnest request to all young parents- please begin with the development of excellent LISTENING skills as soon as the child gets diagnosed with Autism. So that the critical period of language learning ( o- 4 years) receives its right.
So, the endeavour MUST begin with Speech Therapy undoubtedly!
By Mayuri Ramdasi,
Consultant Speech and Language Therapist;
Founder,
ARULA for Autism.
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