Speech Therapy - Criteria for Autistic Children

Before a child could undergo speech therapy with theable to initiate or sustain a conversation with other
diagnosis of Autism, he should pass a criteria ofpeople.
characteristics first that is given by the DSM-IV. TheThe child can also have stereotyped and repetitive
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disordersuse of language. This phenomenon is actually called
(DSM) is the standard classification of mentalidiosyncratic language, where what the child keeps on
disorders used by mental health professionals in thesaying seems to me meaningless. He may keep on
United States.Here are the criteria for a child to besaying the word blue for countless of times, even for
diagnosed with such conditions.the whole duration of the day.
1.Social InteractionHe can also lack the ability to have varied,
First off, a child should have impairment in socialspontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play
interaction. This could be manifested by at least twothat is appropriate for his developmental level. Play is
of the following behaviors. First is a markedone of the notable things that differentiate a child
impairment with the use of different non-verbalwith Autism with normal children. For an Autistic child,
behaviors like facial expression, eye-to-eye gaze, andplay does not exist. The main concern is that play is
body posture.an important factor for language development since
Second is the child's failure to develop peerit is a prerequisite or co-requisite of inner language.
relationship that is appropriate for his developmental3.Repetitive And Stereotype Behavior Patterns
level. In this case the child may seem to haveAn Autistic child also manifests repetitive behavior.
difficulty gaining friends, or even just relating to otherThis criteria is judged by having at least one of the
children within his age.following conditions.
The child may also have the lack of spontaneity toThe child may have an encompassing preoccupation
share his emotions and thoughts. He may not sharewith one or more restricted and stereotyped
enjoyment, achievements, or interests to otherpatterns of interests that may seem abnormal in
people. In this case, the child doesn't usually bring orrespect to focus and intensity. For example the child
point to objects that interest him.can sit and look at the ceiling fan for the whole day,
The lack of emotional reciprocity is also possible. Noand doesn't care what is happening in his
matter how hard you try to connect or show yourenvironment, all that matters is the fan.
emotions and feelings to the child, he wouldn't careThe child also has fetish with routines and rituals. If
less.he passes by a certain way to school, it has to be
2.Communicationthe same way. If you use the main stairs going to his
The child also has communication impairment. Havingclassroom, then taking a different route like the
at least one of the following conditions manifests this.elevator would definitely agitate him, make him angry
First is having a delay, or even total lack of spokenand have tantrums.
language development or expressive language. In thisThe child may also have repetitive behaviors or
case, the child doesn't even try to use ofmannerisms. Hand flapping, finger twisting, and
compensatory strategies to communicate or othercomplex body movements are examples of these.
means of communication like gestures.Lastly, he can also be preoccupied with object parts
For children that have adequate speech, thelike buttons, screws and other small details.
communication impairment is manifested by not being