How to Support and Strengthen Autistic Limited Speech and Language Delayed Learners
Written by Julie M. Armenta M.A., Education & Family Specialist & Founder of
Armenta Learning Academy

Parents often ask me how to work with a child that has autism with limited or no speech. There are many programs, practices, and devices that can help speech and language disorders that affect school-age children. Difficulty in learning to read, write, and speak can result from language development problems that can occur in the production, comprehension, and awareness of language sounds, syllables, words, sentences, and conversation. Individuals with reading and writing problems also may have trouble using language to communicate.

Here is a list of a few speech and language disorders that commonly affect students:

1. Speech Sound Disorder: Difficulty with pronouncing sounds.

2. Language Disorders: Trouble understanding what is heard, as well as expressing oneself with words at all.

3. Cognitive Communication Disorder: Difficulty with thinking skills, including perception, memory, awareness, reasoning, judgement, intellect and imagination.

4. Stuttering and Fluency Disorders: Interruption of the flow of speech that may cause hesitation, repetition and prolongations in the sounds of words.

5. Voice Disorders: Quality of voice that may include hoarseness, nasality and volume control issues.

Speech and language skills are essential to academic success. Language learning, reading, writing, gesturing, listening, and speaking takes place through the process of communication. Equally, to communicate and the ability to communicate with peers and adults in the educational setting is essential for students to succeed in life and in the classroom. Children that have communication disorders generally do not perform at grade level, struggle with reading, have difficulty understanding and expressing language, misunderstand social cues, avoid attending school, and have difficulty taking tests.

There are solutions and tools to help your children manage issues they may have and help them develop skills to succeed. Here are some ideas that may work for your family: Language Modeling Strategies: Observe and mimic teacher/trainer. This teaches the child to combine and recombine graphic words in a visual learning approach. Shared Story Reading: Use speech devices or other visual representation, and aided language stimulation. In addition, AAA technology vocabulary throughout the day for real world and life situations.

Singe-word Expressions to Multiple Word Communication: Daily training at school and home. Matrix training to grow with parents. Multimodal is best with graphics, images, AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) support and sign language. Sign Language Support: Pointing to symbols, basic letters, and words to sentences. Occupational Therapy: Generally, this is funded by Medicare or medical insurance. The therapists work with your child to develop motor components and teach sign language. Instructional Strategies/Assistive Technology: With graphic symbols and specific words (nouns, verbs, adjectives). Use child’s favorite words. Communication boards or picture exchange books and VOCA (Voice Output Communication Aid) are also helpful.

Recommended Devices Proven Effective from $30 to $240
1. Toobaloo $30
2. Electric Light Sound $30
3. Smart Talk/Target $40-100
4. Educational Insight Math Aids $50-100
5. Hooked on Phonics Master Reader $160
6. Quick Talker 7 $165
7. Go Talk 9 $175
8. Reading Pen $200
9. Talk 2 Assistive Technology $240

The overall goals for children with speech and language disorders is to give them daily support in school and at home and allow them to make choices for successful solutions with outside experiences and the real world.

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Article written by
Julie M. Armenta, MA Founder & Education & Family Specialist
Armenta Learning Academy
28062 Forbes Road. #B
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
949-367-WISE(9473)
academicsuccessnow@yahoo.com

Mrs. Armenta looks forward to working with your child on their academic journey, and having a successful school year. Armenta Learning Academy can help your child and personalize a plan for you and your family. We are here to support and strengthen the needs of autistic limited speech and language delayed learners in a private, personalized and professional setting. We offer school, tutoring and all educational services, including accelerated studies, classes for credit, and remedial support. We provide Academic & Enrichment Programs year-round for all learning needs including Special Needs and Gifted programs, Pre-K thru Adult, Onsite/Offsite, 7 days a week, part-time or full-time with flexible scheduling. Your child finally gets the attention and expertise they need and deserve to be successful in school and in life! Call for support in all subjects in your home or at the Academy. We guarantee success!