Deficits in language abilities and comprehension
Deficits in language comprehension by the child is one of the earliest signs of autism. Presence of speech before five years of age is a great sign for better results in autism. In autistic children, language capabilities may vary from being nonverbal to immensely idiosyncratic. Few characteristic language issues in these children are echolalia and unusual prosody. At least 50% of autistic children suffer from intellectual disabilities. Others with normal IQ almost always suffer from substantial language and communication shortfalls. Speech therapy is an important intervention which should be introduced as early as the child is diagnosed with ASD. It can a long way in helping the child live a normal life. It can improve communication skills and language issues faced by the child. Proper counselling of the parents and some dietary interventions can ensure best results for these children. Applied Behavior Analysis is another approach that has been widely accepted by healthcare professional all around the globe to improve language abilities in children suffering from ASD.