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By Catherine H. Gottfred
It's possible to help a toddler with autism tell his parents "I love you," or help a teen with autism communicate with peers so he can make friends.
How? And who can help? The short answer is that we have to listen to science and look to knowledgeable professionals for guidance.
Autism is essentially a communication disorder. Thus, when federal hearings began recently concerning an unproven link between vaccines and autism, and recent media reports cited two leading presidential candidates as referencing this unproven link, I knew how important it was to share our perspective on evidence-based practice—right away.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) represents the professionals who provide communication services and conduct research for children and adults with speech, language, and hearing disorders, including those with autism.
We have been instrumental in shaping education policy at the local, state, and national levels, stressing the need for qualified professionals, inclusive practices, individualized services, family involvement, and appropriate, scientifically-based educational programs.
As the leading organization for this nation's speech-language pathologists, ASHA is serious about its responsibility to equip policy-makers and parents with accurate information and the perspective that's been gained from the front-line work of its members.
Specifically, here's why we care what policymakers think about autism—and why readers should care, too:
- As discussion around autism has intensified, the condition has increasingly become a magnet for false assertions and controversial treatments.
- Policymakers, including our new president, will play a pivotal role in decisions affecting children with autism and their families.
- To empower these decision-makers and the families of children with autism—solid, evidence-based information is essential, whether you're talking about vaccines, speech-language treatment, or any other type of medical care or education programs.
Autism is a neurologically-based disorder that affects verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, areas that are the primary responsibilities of speech-language pathologists. Often, they are first professionals to recognize that a child has autism as parents seek them out for help when their child is not talking, responding, or interacting with others.
An important part of what speech-language pathologists offer moms, dads, and the children themselves is the incorporation of the principles of evidence-based practice in clinical decision-making. This approach integrates high-quality research evidence with practitioner expertise and client preferences and values in order to make the best clinical decisions possible.
The need for this approach stands to grow. With the increasing numbers of children with autism, the role of speech-language pathologists with assessment, diagnosis (typically as part of a team), and intervention has become even more important and pivotal to foster effective communication. There also has been increasing awareness of the value of early identification and intervention.
Such steps only serve to be enlightened and facilitated by science. On one hand, parents who think that vaccines cause autism may not have their children get the vaccinations they need, a choice with serious health risks. This is the case even though there is no scientific evidence to support such a connection.
Yet, it also needs to be known that a child's communication skills may be compromised, may decline, and will not improve, if he or she receives treatments that have no scientific evidence, or that have evidence that they do not work.
Indeed, when our speech-language pathologists see families in desperation, grasping out for even unproven treatments, they realize how critical it is to advocate for care that is based on science. For it can improve communication skills and prevent more serious problems or further decline. Furthermore, because speech and language skills have a strong influence in other areas of development, communication improvements resulting from effective, scientifically valid treatments can improve social interactions, reading ability, academic skills, and behavior.
Presidential candidates and public officials are in a central position to shape policy and influence public health. They need facts to guide their decisions, set research and funding priorities, and make sure that parents are informed, not misled, by the information at hand.
A key lesson that has been learned from the daily work of speech-language pathologists—namely, the importance of evidence-based practice—can help guide the autism conversation, and I urge our leaders to pay attention to it. The stakes are rising. Autism cases are on the increase. Even greater communication challenges await in terms of the treatment we deliver and the policies we follow.
It's time to listen to the science. America's children deserve nothing less.
Catherine H. Gottfred is President of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association
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