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Speech Therapy
What is it and why is it important?
Speech therapy is a specialized service that helps people improve how they communicate, understand language, and interact socially. Communication differences are a core part of autism. Depending on the results of your child's evaluation, the psychologist or medical physician may have recommended speech therapy for either expressive language, receptive language, articulation, or pragmatic language.
Please NOTE:
IF the psychologist or medical physician did not complete a speech and language evaluation as part of your child's autism evaluation, THEN I would encourage you to obtain a speech and language evaluation from a private speech therapist, your local school district, and/or an early childhood intervention program (if applicable).
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What is private speech therapy?
Private speech therapy is speech-language therapy provided outside of the school system, usually through a clinic, private practice, or home-based provider. Private speech therapy is delivered by a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). Private speech therapy focuses on communication needs identified through a clinical evaluation, not limited by school eligibility rules. Private speech therapy supports communication needs even if the child is doing well in school.
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The benefits of private speech therapy:
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the SLP can see a child more frequently
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use specialized programs
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work on goals chosen by the family
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address feeding, articulation, social communication, language development, communication devices, and more
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parents are often included in practicing skills at home
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What is school-based speech therapy?
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School-based speech therapy is delivered by a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) employed by the school district. The focus is on communication skills that directly affect a student's ability to understand instruction, participate in class, communicate with teachers and peers, access the curriculum, and meet academic and functional goals.
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IF a communication difference does NOT impact school functioning, the student may not qualify for school-based services even if they would benefit from private therapy.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
A student must be evaluated under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) AND meet two criteria:
1. A communication disorder is present
2. It negatively affects educational performance
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If both are true, the student may receive speech therapy as a related service or as their primary disability area.
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School-Based Speech Therapy:
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must relate to educational impact
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guided by IDEA, IEP goals, and school standards
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often group-based
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focus on classroom participation
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free to families
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MY RECOMMENDATION
As a parent of a child with autism and an Educational Diagnostician, I strongly recommend pursuing both a private evaluation and a school evaluation, regardless of your child's age - especially when there is a new diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Each evaluation serves a different purpose and provides valuable information about your child's strengths, needs, and support options. Because communication differences are a core feature of ASD, accessing consistent, high-quality speech therapy can make a meaningful difference in your child's development. Early support matters. The sooner your child receives the services they need, the better equipped they will be to communicate, learn, and thrive.