Maine General Medical Center - Thayer Center For Health

Speech therapy is almost always recommended for autistic children since many people with autism have difficulty with social communication. Even if a child is very verbal and says a lot of words, they might need to work on communication skills like: 

• responding to questions
• starting or ending conversation
• changing conversation topics
• using gestures like pointing
• understanding other people's body language 

Speech therapy is a big focus in early intervention for autistic children and is usually the starting place for recently diagnosed kids. There is a critical period in the brain for language development and so, it's really important to teach language and communication skills as early as possible, especially if there are any delays in that area. Your child will learn effective ways to communicate which will help them grow into more independent and confident individuals.

It might be obvious when a child struggles with speaking —they are very quiet, say only a few words, or don't speak at all.

Spot speech and language delays like a doctor here.

The goal of speech therapy is to help your child communicate effectively with other people across all environments. This may take the form of using gestures, simple signs, verbal speech, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

Some other common things speech therapists can help with:

• Nonverbal skills, such as signs or gestures
• Forming speech in a clearer way
• Communicating thoughts and feelings clearly
• Understanding and responding to questions
• Discerning facial expressions and their corresponding emotions
• Noticing and understanding body language
• Feeding and swallowing
• Stuttering

When you visit a neurologist, they’ll assess your child’s needs, run some tests (think imaging or EEG), and diagnose. From there, they’ll create a customized treatment plan. Medication, lifestyle tweaks, or maybe even a referral to another specialist could be on the table.

There unfortunately isn’t one test for all neurodevelopmental conditions. Most likely you will go into a visit to test one or two medical conditions. If you are looking for a comprehensive autism evaluation, developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists are the preferred specialists who can diagnose autism.

No, neurologists focus mainly on non-surgical interventions. If your child needs surgery, neurologists might point you in the direction of a pediatric neurosurgeon.

Get involved with local organizations, support groups, and professionals specializing in those hard of hearing. They can offer guidance, resources, and opportunities for your kiddo’s development. The more you know, the better you can support your child.

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Hands & Voices is a parent-driven, nonprofit organization that provides unbiased support, regarding communication methodology and technology, to families with deaf or hard of hearing children.
• Gallaudet University — Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center is a federally funded institution offering exemplary academic programs to deaf/HoH students. They provide early intervention services, sign language classes, and uniquely designed resources for deaf/HoH communities.
• Hearing Loss Association of America is a nonprofit organization with a mission to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, education, support, and advocacy.

More research is needed to understand the link between sleep disturbance and autism, but there are a few possible reasons why autistic children have difficulty sleeping.2

• Co-occurring conditions. Coexisting medical conditions like ADHD, anxiety, or sleep apnea (when you stop breathing multiple times throughout the night), environmental allergies, and gastrointestinal upset (like constipation), can negatively impact sleep.
• Sensory sensitivities. Sensitivity to lights, sounds, and touch (think textures of blankets and clothing) can disrupt sleep.
• Medications. Often autistic children are prescribed medications to address various concerns like hyperactivity, anxiety, or aggression. Many of these medications may contribute to sleep problems. Adderall, Focalin, and Vyvanse are examples of stimulants prescribed to children on the spectrum to treat hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention, that can cause insomnia. Abilify and Risperdal (medications commonly prescribed for autistic children who have severe irritability, aggression, and/or self-injurious behaviors) may cause some children to become very sleepy.  However, each person responds differently to medications. (Pro tip: Keep channels of communication open with your doctor so that you can find the best medication to help your child that least affects sleep.)
• Neurobiological differences. Some research suggests autistic people may not produce the same levels of neurotransmitters (such as serotonin) or hormones (melatonin) important for sleep regulation, and may also experience disruption in circadian rhythms.3 In addition, low muscle tone can contribute to sleep-breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea, which also affects the quality of sleep and can lead to increased inattentive and hyperactive symptoms during the day. These behaviors, in turn, make it more challenging for the child to participate in therapies and activities. 

For more information, read our comprehensive sleep guide.

Like anyone else, when children on the spectrum don’t get adequate sleep, they may find it difficult to self-regulate during the day. But there’s another consequence – autistic kids who don’t get enough sleep can experience an increase in stimming, irritability, inattention, difficulty socializing, and keeping up in school.3 They may also face challenges with increased hyperactivity and lack of impulse control. In short, lack of sleep can intensify your child’s existing challenges.

The same goes for parents, too. It’s hard for you to keep your cool and be fully present when you aren’t well-rested.5 As you’ve already found out, good sleep is crucial for everyone in the home.

Speak with your doctor if you have concerns – especially if you notice your child snores or gasps in their sleep, grinds their teeth (bruxism), sleeps with their mouth open/drools, or is very sweaty during sleep, as these are potential signs of sleep apnea. It can be helpful to keep a log of concerns, including when the child falls asleep, how many times they wake up, when they wake for the day, and any unusual behaviors (e.g., an unusual number of sleep terrors, recurrent nightmares, sleepwalking, sleep talking, unusual hand movements, lip-smacking).

Research shows that pediatricians are sometimes unaware of the severity of sleep issues in autistic children, so please continue to advocate for your child if you have concerns.