Autism and Language

Autism can have a huge impact on a person's ability to communicate. In some cases after children have begun to learn and use language in the usual way they can suddenly stop using words to communicate. The Daily Mail reported on a story... Read more

World Autism Awareness Week

The National Autistic Society is encouraging people to help celebrate World Autism Awareness Week which this year takes place between Saturday 2 April and Friday 8 April. By raising money people can help to raise awareness about autism... Read more

Synaesthesia in Autism

Synaesthesia (Greek syn – ‘together’ and aesthesis – ‘perception’) or ‘cross-sensory perception’ is an involuntary physical experience of a cross-modal association, i.e. the stimulation of one sensory modality triggers a... Read more

AUTISM – Systems Shutdowns

Too much sensory overload may result in systems shutdowns, when the person loses some or all of the normal functioning. Shutdown may feel different to different people, but it is very unpleasant and often frightening. If the sensory... Read more

Bilingual children and language development

There is conflicting information about bilingualism and its effects on language development in children. Some studies report that bilingual children achieve basic language development milestones at the same age as children just learning... Read more

Gestures and communication

Speech and language therapists recognise that the use of gesture is an important part of communication and for some people with difficulties in expressing their message – such as people who have suffered a stroke and have aphasia - it... Read more

Autism Mapping Project

The Parents Autism Project is inviting people to participate in a global citizen science project called the International Autism Mapping Project. People who take part will help in gathering information which will make for stronger... Read more

How a diagnosis of high-functioning autism helped a woman make sense of her life.

Awareness and support for Autism has increased in recent years meaning that more people are likely to be diagnosed earlier in their lives. This in turn can mean earlier and improved access to services, such as speech and language therapy,... Read more

Challenging behaviour in autism? It’s often a positive sign

I’ve often encountered such words as ‘aggression’ or ‘violence’ when reading about autism. Perhaps it seems like aggression/violence, but let’s look at it from a different perspective. Those who work with so-called... Read more

Children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds

Advice for parents who have children with Speech and Language difficulties for whom English is an additional language. Things you can do to help your child: Continue speaking in your own language at home Keep words and gestures... Read more