Language Development Information
What is Autism?
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. The two other autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are Asperger syndrome, which lacks delays in cognitive development and language, and PDD-NOS, diagnosed when full criteria for the other two disorders are not met.
Informatvive Autism Websites
Local Autism Programs
What is Oral Motor Therapy?
Oral motor exercises/therapy are occasionally necessary for weak articulators or muscles in the mouth and face for speech production. They sometimes need strengthening, need to move farther and/or have better coordination. These can help a child make speech sounds better as well as help with the eating/feeding/swallowing problems some children have difficulty with.
What is Feeding Therapy?
The site below can help explain what feeding therapy is and what a speech therapist would do to help with feeding issues.
Some feeding issues occur secondary to Sensory Processing Disorder. The site below can help you understand how Sensory issues might be a factor in feeding issues.
What is sensory processing disorder?
Achecklist at the bottom of the following web page can help you decipher if you should be concerned about sensory processing disorder.
