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Speech and Language Therapy for Asperger Syndrome

Speech and Language Therapy is a key intervention for individuals with Asperger Syndrome to assist with their communication difficulties. Since Speech and Language Therapy aims to improve communication, Speech and Language Therapists play an essential role in the assessment and management of Asperger Syndrome. Difficulties experienced by individuals with Asperger Syndrome are not usually to do with the way they speak and pronounce words, but how they perceive the meaning of other people's speech and also how they then respond to it.

Often very verbal individuals with Asperger Syndrome are likely to misuse and misunderstand language regularly. Although individuals with Asperger Syndrome may not appear to have any speech and language difficulties, they will experience difficulties with their higher levels of language, this will often cause them to be 'socially awkward' and be more susceptible to bullying and teasing at school.

SLT intervention - social skills group

Individuals with Asperger Syndrome will experience difficulties in their non-verbal communication skills and also being able to use social skills appropriately. Speech and language therapy will provide the individual, their family and others involved in their care with the correct support and advice to help the individual communicate and function to their highest potential in their social, educational and home environments.

Following an initial assessment, which will determine what communication difficulties the individual has, the speech and language therapist will create an individualised treatment plan tailored to the specific needs and abilities of the individual.

Speech and Language Therapy for individuals with Asperger Syndrome will generally aim to address the following:

Social understanding
Attention and listening skills
Developing play skills
Increasing their motivation to communicate
Understanding of language
Understanding of expression
Social skills
Use of expressive communication

Speech and language therapy is highly beneficial for individual's with Asperger Syndrome in helping them to communicate more effectively with others around them. Speech and language therapy will increase the individual's awareness of the world around them and also their social understanding. Speech and language therapy has many benefits including:

Increased confidence and self-esteem
Increased social opportunities
Improved quality of life

Speech and language therapy also benefits others who communicate with the individual by making them aware of the individual's difficulties. By making others aware of the communication difficulties individuals with Asperger Syndrome have, it enables them to adapt how they communicate with them in order to create a better understanding for the individual with Asperger Syndrome and also achieve more effective communication.

If you feel speech and language therapy would be beneficial or would like to arrange an appointment with one of our specialist speech and language therapists, please contact us by emailing office@asdclinic.co.uk or calling 03300 886 693.

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