Autism

Who diagnoses Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism can be diagnosed by any of the following professionals:

  • Developmental Pediatrician

  • Pediatric Neurologist

  • Child Psychiatrist

  • Child Psychologist

What are some of the characteristics of Autism?

Social Communication

  • Avoids eye contact or finds it uncomfortable

  • Does not or struggles to engage in social greetings

  • Struggles to connect in the same way that peers do

  • Difficulty reading nonverbal cues (e.g., person looking at their watch may need or want to leave)

  • Struggles to have a reciprocal conversation

Language & Communication

  • Initially began to talk but has since lost language

  • Use of Echolalia (repeating words and phrases you say word for word in the same tone)

  • Struggles to alter communication style to be different for children versus adults

  • May prefer to only talk about things they are interested in

  • Struggles to use pronouns accurately

  • May talk or mutter quietly to themselves with limited pronunciation

Sensory Differences

Enjoys hand flapping or rocking back and forth

  • Seeks repetitive movements and may seek unsafe movement (e.g., jumping on climbing on furniture frequently

  • Sensitivity to noises or lights

  • Sensitivity to textures of clothing or specific fabrics

  • Becomes very dysregulated or upset when routines or rules are changed

  • Looking at items very closely or from his or her peripheral vision

What is Gestalt Language Processing?

Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) is a communication style often used by Autistic children, where they process language in chunks or “gestalts” rather than word by word. Instead of constructing sentences from smaller, isolated parts, they tend to learn and repeat whole phrases or expressions that they’ve heard from others. These phrases might not always be understood in the typical context but serve as a way for the individual to express themselves or process information.

When seeking speech therapy for your child, it is important to use GLP-friendly approaches if your child is a Gestalt Language Processor. One helpful tip is to use first-person language. If your child falls, try saying, “I'm okay!” or “Ouch, that hurt my hand” so that if your child ties it to that emotional experience and uses it again, it is already in language that others will understand.