Autism Speech Therapy | Cadabam’s Child Development Center

Why Speech & Language Therapy Matters for Autism

Understanding Communication Challenges in Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Up to 40% of children on the spectrum are minimally verbal or non-verbal.
• Common hurdles include limited vocabulary, echolalia, and difficulty with turn-taking or reading body language.
• These challenges can mask a child’s true intelligence and potential.

Impact on Daily Life & Development

• Mealtimes, bedtime stories, and playground interactions become stressful.
• Academic readiness lags when instructions cannot be processed or questions asked.
• Social isolation increases, leading to anxiety and challenging behaviors.

Research-Backed Benefits of Early Intervention

• Starting therapy before age 5 increases the likelihood of age-appropriate speech by age 7 (Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 2021).
• Early programs cut future special-education costs by 30%.
• Children show improved joint attention, which predicts later reading and math success.

Our Therapy Approaches

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with Speech Integration

• Combines motivation-driven ABA principles with speech-language goals.
• Targets functional communication—requesting, labeling, and conversation skills.
• Data-driven sessions ensure every sound, word, or sentence is reinforced and shaped.

Verbal Behavior Therapy (VBT)

• Focuses on the purpose of language: mand (request), tact (label), intraverbal (answer).
• Uses natural environment teaching so skills transfer to home, school, and park.

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)

• Ideal pre-cursor to speech for non-verbal children.
• Six phases move from single pictures to full sentences on a tablet or card.
• Reduces tantrums by giving an immediate voice.

Social Communication Training

• Small groups practice greetings, maintaining topics, and understanding jokes.
• Video modeling and role-play build peer friendships.

Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)

• High-tech tablets with dynamic voice output or low-tech choice boards.
• Individualized to match motor skills, vision, and cognitive level.

Program Benefits

Improved Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication

• Clearer speech sounds, expanded vocabulary, and smoother sentence structure.

Enhanced Social Interaction Skills

• Children learn to read facial expressions, share toys, and invite peers to play.

Reduced Frustration & Challenging Behaviors

• Functional communication replaces hitting, screaming, or self-injury.

Better Academic Readiness

• Following multi-step instructions, answering “wh” questions, and pre-literacy skills set the stage for school success.

Who Can Benefit?

Early Intervention (Ages 2-5)

• Brain plasticity is highest; gains are fastest.
• Parent coaching sessions run parallel to maximize daily practice.

School-Age Children (6-12)

• Therapy dovetails with IEP goals; collaboration with teachers ensures carry-over.

Adolescents & Young Adults

• Focus shifts to vocational communication, texting etiquette, and self-advocacy in college or workplace.

What to Expect: Therapy Process

Initial Comprehensive Assessment

• Speech-language pathologist, ABA therapist, and psychologist observe play, test receptive/expressive language, and review hearing reports.

Individualized Treatment Plan

• SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
• Weekly schedule (2–4 sessions) adjusted every 90 days.

Parent Training & Home Programs

• 30-minute coaching after every 5th session.
• Take-home kits with visual schedules, first-then boards, and QR-code videos.

Progress Monitoring & Adjustments

• Data sheets track new words, intelligibility, and social initiations.
• Quarterly reports shared with pediatricians and schools.

Success Stories

Case Study: From Non-Verbal to Conversational

Arjun, age 4, entered Cadabams CDC with zero words. After 8 months of combined PECS and VBT:

• First spontaneous request: “juice.”
• 6 months later, full sentences: “Can I play with the red car?”
• Parents report bedtime chatter replacing nightly meltdowns.

Parent Testimonials

• “Within weeks we saw fewer tantrums. Now our daughter greets her grandparents on video calls!” – Mrs. R.
• “The team listened when we said our son loves trains; every session became a fun journey.” – Mr. V.

Measurable Outcomes

• Average 50% increase in intelligibility after 6 months.
• 70% of early-intervention graduates transition to mainstream classrooms.