The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association defines autism as 'a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction and the presence of restricted, repetitive behaviors.' 

 

Speech-language services may be recommended to help autistic individuals learn to communicate, understand the subtleties of language, and/or develop and maintain relationships. A variety of treatment strategies and approaches may be utilized, depending on the strengths and needs of each person.