Speech Therapy (Autism)

          Delayed language or speech is one of the most common developmental problem in children. There are many causes of language and speech delay, the most important is hearing loss, and the other most likely causes including cognitive impairment (e.g. Intellectual Disability, Down Syndrome), Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Autism), neurological damage (e.g. brain infection/ injury or cerebral palsy), psychosocial disorders (child abuse, neglect or lacking of environment stimulation), and anatomical (e.g. cleft lip or palate). - (References - Speech-Language Therapist by Francesca Bierens)

          Sean is included in Autistic Spectrum Disorder. In my previous post I did mention about Sean's Audiology Test, Sean's hearing is normal (from the result). His next appointment would be speech therapy and his 1st speech therapy was on 8th April 2013, located at Sibu General Hospital. Recalling back, that day was a good sunny day, everybody was in a good mood including our little Sean. As we brought him entered the therapy room, the 1st thing he did was grabbing a box of blocks, ignoring other toys on the table. He was so happy jumping up and down while flapping his both hands, laughing loudly regardless of the therapist there. Everybody pass by saw his actions would smile. I'm proud of this happy child that I have. Thank God.

          After that, he was examined by the therapist briefly, she tried to play with him with other toys but he refused, still preferred the blocks. At that time, Sean started to line up the blocks on the floor, just exactly like the way he did at home. She let him do it, as there's no use in forcing him to do something that he refused to do. Then the therapist interviewed us about Sean's behaviour at home, how he communicate with us at home, how many word that he knows, the way he plays toy and etc. After she recorded all the informations about Sean, I showed her Sean sang "Girl on fire"s video. here. She was very entertained by it, and we laughed a lot about that. Then lastly she summaries all that Sean really delay in speech, he needs speech therapy consistently. She suggested that if it's possible to make it once a week 4 - 6 times?..my husband and I just looked at each other because we both knew that it was impossible, so finally we decided to make it once in 2 weeks started from 29th May 2013. So if it going on for 4 times, that will be 8 weeks period of time, and if it going on for 6 times, that will be 12 weeks period of time, same as 1 year. It's not easy we know but we just need to try.

Activities that encourage development of speech for children:

1. Play pretend games, express your feeling through your face or gesture when you play. (e.g. "wow!so delicious"-happy face, "i'm so full!!"- rub your tummy...etc..)
2. Play take a turn games so that he is aware that he has companion or somebody is around.
3. Play as a team.

Please do visit here for further information, it might help your little one.